Digital cooperation Archives | Page 11 of 219

UNESCO launches research on harmful online content governance in South Africa

A new research initiative led by UNESCO is examining the governance of harmful online content in South Africa, bringing together actors from government, academia, civil society and technology platforms to strengthen digital governance frameworks.

Conducted under the Social Media 4 Peace programme and supported by the EU, the study investigates the spread and impact of hate speech and disinformation while assessing existing regulatory approaches and platform governance systems.

Emphasis is placed on identifying structural gaps and developing practical responses suited to the country’s socio-political context.

Stakeholder engagement has shaped the research design to reflect local realities, with the aim of producing actionable and rights-based recommendations. As noted by a researcher involved in the project,

‘At Research ICT Africa, we don’t want this study to end with generic recommendations. We are aiming for grounded insights into how social media is shaping information integrity in our context, alongside practical guidance that regulators, platforms, and civil society can apply.‘

Kola Ijasan, a researcher at Research ICT Africa

Regulatory perspectives also highlight the importance of understanding emerging risks. As one regulator stated,

‘We are particularly interested in identifying regulatory gaps – areas where current laws and frameworks fall short in addressing emerging digital risks.‘

Nomzamo Zondi, a regulator in South Africa.

Findings are expected to contribute to evidence-based policymaking, strengthen platform accountability and safeguard freedom of expression and access to information.

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UAE advances AI native vision for future 6G networks

UAE operator e& (formerly Etisalat) has partnered with Khalifa University to outline a new vision for AI-native 6G networks. Their joint whitepaper presents a framework in which intelligence is embedded at the core of the network architecture rather than added as a feature.

The proposal introduces a dedicated AI plane alongside existing network layers to enable continuous learning and automation. This approach supports sensing, reasoning and autonomous decision-making across radio, core and edge systems.

The framework includes distributed AI agents, digital twin integration and closed-loop automation models. It is designed to support multi-vendor environments while enabling scalable and coordinated intelligence across networks.

Five core pillars underpin the model, including AI frameworks, cloud-edge computing and sustainability-focused design. Together, these elements position 6G as a cognitive infrastructure capable of predictive optimisation and advanced service delivery.

The whitepaper also defines measurable performance indicators such as latency, learning accuracy and energy efficiency. The initiative aims to contribute to global standards while strengthening the UAE’s role in shaping future telecom systems.

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Growing investment and energy plans reshape Armenia’s AI future

Armenia’s recent technology announcements are helping to form a clearer national AI strategy with stronger coordination. A memorandum with the US on semiconductors and AI now appears to be moving beyond symbolic commitment into action.

Momentum has accelerated with plans to expand a large-scale AI factory backed by significant investment. The project is estimated at around $4 billion and includes tens of thousands of advanced GPUs to support large-scale development.

The initiative is already entering construction, marking a shift from concept to execution in a short timeframe. Officials have described a broader vision of building a network of AI factories across the country.

Energy planning is becoming central, with discussions around deploying a small modular nuclear reactor to meet demand. Stable and scalable power is considered essential for sustaining long-term AI infrastructure growth.

Efforts are also targeting the wider ecosystem through a Virtual AI Institute and planned GPU access for startups. These steps aim to strengthen research capacity and ensure local participation in the country’s AI expansion.

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UK opens supercomputing access to boost AI startups

Britain is opening access to its national AI Research Resource to support domestic AI development. Startups and spinouts can now use supercomputers previously reserved for frontier research.

The AIRR combines infrastructure from government, universities and leading technology firms. It provides the computing power needed to train models and run complex simulations.

Access will be worth around £20 million per year for participating companies. Officials say reducing compute barriers will help startups move faster from prototype to product.

The government’s Sovereign AI Unit, backed by up to £500 million, will also support long-term growth. The programme targets areas including advanced models, scientific discovery and trustworthy AI systems.

Concerns remain over regulatory alignment with the EU’s stricter AI rules. Tensions could shape whether the UK maintains a more flexible environment for innovation.

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South Korea seeks support for global AI hub

South Korea is seeking international support for a proposed global AI hub to advance cooperation on technology and governance. The initiative was discussed during talks with Switzerland’s leadership.

Officials in Switzerland met with South Korea’s prime minister to strengthen bilateral ties and support the project. The programme is intended to promote collaboration on AI rules, education and innovation.

The government of South Korea has also engaged several UN agencies to support the initiative. Agreements outline cooperation to help establish the hub and expand global dialogue on AI development.

Leaders in South Korea say the country aims to contribute its strong information technology capabilities to the project. The initiative reflects broader efforts to position the nation as a key player in global AI policy and innovation.

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Dublin launches major data centre microgrid

A new 110MW data centre microgrid has been launched in Dublin to support rising AI-driven energy demand. The system is designed to provide reliable power during early development stages before full grid connection.

The project combines energy generation, battery storage and heat recovery to improve efficiency and resilience. Developers say the system can help address power constraints affecting large-scale cloud and AI facilities.

Industry leaders in Dublin say the microgrid offers a model for integrating renewable energy with traditional infrastructure. The approach could be replicated in other European markets facing similar grid limitations.

Experts say the system also enables future innovations such as hydrogen integration and district heating. The project reflects a broader shift towards treating energy as a strategic asset in the expansion of AI infrastructure.

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CEOs worry about AI progress

Business leaders in Cyprus are increasingly concerned about whether their organisations are adapting quickly enough to AI-driven change. A recent PwC survey shows many executives feel the pace of transformation is too slow.

Despite growing interest, most companies have yet to see significant financial returns from AI. Only a minority reported increased revenue or reduced costs, while many said the impact remains limited. These returns are not limited to Cyprus, but are also seen around the world.

Companies in Cyprus are still building the foundations for wider AI adoption. The challenges include limited investment, difficulty attracting skilled talent and uncertainty about organisational readiness.

Executives expect AI to affect junior roles more than senior positions over the coming years. Leaders emphasise the need for clear strategy, workforce development and stronger alignment between technology and business goals.

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AI fuels rise in cyber scams

Cybercrime incidents have surged as AI tools enable more convincing scams, leading to sharply rising losses in Estonia. Authorities reported thousands of phishing and fraud cases affecting individuals and businesses.

Criminals are using AI to generate fluent messages in Estonian, removing a key warning sign that once helped people detect scams. Experts say language accuracy has made fraudulent calls and messages harder to identify.

Growing awareness of scams is also fuelling public anxiety, with some users considering abandoning digital services. Officials warn that loss of trust could undermine confidence in digital systems.

Authorities are urging stronger safeguards and public education to counter the cybersecurity threats. Banks, telecom firms and digital identity providers are introducing new protections while campaigns aim to improve digital awareness.

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Tether unveils mobile-friendly AI training platform

Tether has launched an AI framework that runs large language models on smartphones and non-NVIDIA GPUs. The system is part of its QVAC platform and uses Microsoft’s BitNet architecture, along with LoRA techniques to reduce memory and computational requirements.

The framework enables cross-platform training on AMD, Intel, Apple Silicon, and mobile GPUs, allowing models with up to 1 billion parameters to be fine-tuned on phones in under 2 hours.

Larger models with up to 13 billion parameters are also supported on mobile devices. BitNet’s 1-bit architecture reduces VRAM requirements by nearly 78%, enabling larger models to run on limited hardware.

Performance improvements benefit inference, with mobile GPUs outperforming CPUs, enabling on-device training and federated learning. By reducing reliance on cloud infrastructure, the system offers more flexible AI development for distributed environments.

Tether’s expansion into AI mirrors a broader trend in the crypto sector, where companies are investing in AI infrastructure, autonomous agents, and high-performance computing.

Industry activity includes record revenue growth for AI and HPC operations, blockchain-integrated AI agents, and new tools for secure on-chain transactions.

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Memory chip shortage could last until 2030, SK chairman warns

Chey Tae-won warned that the global memory chip shortage could last for years, with structural supply constraints likely to continue into the next decade. Speaking on the sidelines of Nvidia GTC 2026 in San Jose, he said limited wafer capacity remains a key bottleneck for the semiconductor industry.

‘The shortage stems from a lack of wafer capacity, and securing additional wafers takes at least four to five years,’ Chey said. ‘We expect the industry-wide supply shortfall to persist at over 20 percent through 2030.’

He added that SK Hynix is implementing initiatives such as adjusting production schedules and diversifying supplier partnerships to stabilise prices. CEO Kwak Noh-jung is expected to provide further details on these new steps to manage volatility linked to the memory chip shortage.

Despite growing pressure to expand manufacturing overseas, Chey stressed that the group will prioritise domestic production to better respond to the ongoing memory chip shortage. ‘Building capacity outside Korea takes the same amount of time, regardless of location,’ he said. ‘Korea already has the infrastructure in place, allowing for a much faster response.’

He also highlighted the challenges of building fabrication plants abroad, including the need for reliable electricity and water supplies, as well as access to skilled engineering talent.

On competition in the high-bandwidth memory market, Chey noted that rising demand driven by artificial intelligence is reshaping supply dynamics. ‘AI requires graphics processing units (GPUs), and GPUs require HBM. We will do our best,’ he said, while cautioning that excessive focus on HBM could worsen the memory chip shortage for conventional DRAM used in smartphones and personal computers.

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