Digital standards Archives | Page 2 of 352

EU lawmakers call for stronger copyright safeguards in AI training

The European Parliament has adopted a report urging policymakers to establish a long-term framework protecting copyrighted works used in AI training.

These recommendations aim to ensure that creative industries retain transparency and fair treatment as generative AI technologies expand.

Among the central proposals is the creation of a European register managed by the European Union Intellectual Property Office. The database would list copyrighted works used to train AI systems and identify creators who have chosen to exclude their content from such use.

Lawmakers in the EU are also calling for greater transparency from AI developers, including disclosure of the websites from which training data has been collected. According to the report, failing to meet transparency requirements could raise questions about compliance with existing copyright rules.

The recommendations have received mixed reactions from industry stakeholders.

Organisations representing creators argue that stronger safeguards are necessary to ensure fair remuneration and legal clarity, while technology sector groups caution that additional requirements could create complexity for companies developing AI systems.

The report is not legally binding but signals the political direction of ongoing European discussions on copyright and AI governance.

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MIT scientists develop AI system to improve robot planning

Researchers at MIT have developed a hybrid AI framework designed to improve how robots plan and perform complex visual tasks. The approach combines generative AI with classical planning software, allowing machines to analyse images, simulate actions, and generate reliable plans to reach a goal.

The system relies on two specialised vision-language models. One model analyses an image, describes the environment, and simulates possible actions, while a second model converts those simulations into a formal programming language used for planning.

Generated files are then processed by established planning software to produce a step-by-step strategy.

Testing showed a significant improvement compared with existing techniques. The framework achieved an average success rate of about 70 percent, while many baseline methods reached roughly 30 percent.

Performance remained strong in unfamiliar scenarios, demonstrating the system’s ability to adapt to changing conditions.

The method could support applications such as robot navigation, autonomous driving, and multi-robot assembly systems. Continued development aims to handle more complex environments and reduce errors caused by AI model hallucinations.

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UNESCO and African network advance AI in justice

AI is increasingly shaping Africa’s courts, from translation tools to legal search engines. As AI becomes more integrated, judicial actors face new questions around transparency, accountability, and human rights.

Thirty-one members of the African Network of Judicial Trainers (ANJT) gathered in Maputo for a regional workshop on AI, Justice, and Human Rights.

Participants included judicial directors, Supreme Court justices and senior magistrates who shared strategies for responsibly integrating AI into courts. UNESCO highlighted the importance of keeping justice human-centred amid technological change.

Discussions examined the benefits of AI-assisted translation and data analysis, alongside risks such as bias, discrimination, and opacity.

UNESCO introduced practical resources, including the Guidelines for the Use of AI in Courts and Tribunals and AI Essentials for Judges, to help judicial professionals implement ethical practices.

Workshop participants committed to adapting these materials into national training curricula, aiming to multiply knowledge across African judicial systems. ANJT and UNESCO emphasised that AI adoption should enhance efficiency without compromising fairness or the rule of law.

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Dutch firms rank among EU leaders in sustainable ICT

Businesses in the Netherlands rank among the leading adopters of sustainable ICT practices in the EU, according to data from Statistics Netherlands and Eurostat. Around one quarter of companies use digital tools to reduce material consumption and improve resource efficiency.

The Netherlands ranked fourth in the EU for the use of technology to reduce waste and improve sustainability. Sectors including energy, water and waste management showed the strongest adoption of these ICT solutions.

Sustainable disposal of electronic equipment is also widespread among businesses in the Netherlands. About 9 in 10 companies recycle or return obsolete ICT equipment through approved e-waste collection systems.

Across the EU, more than three-quarters of businesses now dispose of outdated technology in environmentally responsible ways. Analysts say progress highlights growing corporate efforts to integrate the sustainability of e-waste into digital operations.

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Lawmakers urged to rethink rules on private messaging

Policymakers are being urged to rethink the regulation of private messaging platforms as disinformation campaigns increasingly spread through closed digital networks. Researchers say messaging apps now play a major role in political communication and crisis information flows.

Evidence from elections and conflicts highlights the challenge. During Brazil’s 2024 municipal elections, manipulated political content spread widely through WhatsApp groups, while authorities in Ukraine reported Telegram being used for both emergency communication and disinformation.

Experts argue that current laws often fail to address messaging platforms, such as Telegram, because regulation typically targets public social media spaces. Analysts say modern messaging services combine private chats with broadcast channels and other features that allow content to reach large audiences.

Policy specialists propose regulating specific platform features rather than entire services. Governments and technology companies are also encouraged to protect encryption while expanding transparency tools, media literacy programmes and user safeguards.

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Writers publish protest book to challenge AI use of copyrighted works

Thousands of writers have joined a symbolic protest against AI companies by publishing a book that contains no traditional content.

The work, titled “Don’t Steal This Book,” lists only the names of roughly 10,000 contributors who oppose the use of their writing to train AI systems without their permission.

An initiative that was organised by composer and campaigner Ed Newton-Rex and distributed during the London Book Fair. Contributors include prominent authors such as Kazuo Ishiguro, Philippa Gregory and Richard Osman, along with thousands of other writers and creative professionals.

Campaigners argue that generative AI systems are trained on vast collections of copyrighted material gathered from the internet without authorisation or compensation.

According to organisers, such practices allow AI tools to compete with the creators whose works were used to develop them.

The protest arrives as the UK Government prepares an economic assessment of potential copyright reforms related to AI. Proposals under discussion include allowing AI developers to use copyrighted material unless rights holders explicitly opt out.

Many writers and artists oppose that approach and demand stronger copyright protections. In parallel, the publishing sector is preparing a licensing initiative through Publishers’ Licensing Services to provide AI developers with legal access to books while ensuring authors receive compensation.

The dispute reflects a growing global debate over how copyright law should apply to generative AI systems that rely on massive datasets to develop chatbots and other digital tools.

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Amazon launches Health AI to assist with medical queries

Amazon has launched a new AI-powered assistant, Health AI, on its website and mobile app. The tool is designed to answer health questions, explain medical records, manage prescriptions, and connect users with healthcare providers.

Health AI can also book appointments and guide users based on their health information if they grant access to their records. The feature is currently limited to the US, with a wider rollout planned in the coming weeks.

The assistant is linked with One Medical, Amazon’s healthcare service, allowing users to communicate with licensed professionals through messages, video consultations, or in-person visits. It can also send prescription renewal requests and suggest relevant health products.

Users can create an Amazon Health Profile and enable two-step authentication to start using Health AI. By allowing the AI to access their medical records, including medications, lab results, and diagnoses, users can receive more personalised responses.

Amazon emphasises that Health AI is a support tool rather than a replacement for doctors. It helps users understand health information and prepare for discussions with healthcare providers, but it does not provide independent diagnoses or treatment.

As part of an introductory offer, eligible US Prime members can receive up to five free message consultations with One Medical providers. The system runs on Amazon Bedrock and uses multiple AI agents to manage tasks, monitor interactions, and escalate to human professionals when necessary.

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AI-driven education push reshapes Chungnam National University strategy

Chungnam National University aims to become a leading centre for AI-driven education in Korea as AI reshapes how universities teach, learn, and manage operations. University President Kim Jeong-kyoum said higher education institutions must rethink how they approach AI and prepare for the profound changes AI-driven education is expected to bring across society.

‘AI will undoubtedly bring significant changes across industries and in our daily lives,’ Kim told The Korea Times in a recent interview. ‘Universities need to approach this shift with an open mindset and be ready to accept it. I want Chungnam National University to become a university that uses AI better than anyone else.’

While acknowledging that the phrase ‘AI-leading university’ is increasingly common, Kim said the university’s real priority is integrating AI into teaching practically. The institution is considering incorporating AI-related elements into more than 30 percent of its curriculum to ensure students gain hands-on experience with the technology and support the expansion of AI-driven education across disciplines.

‘We want to teach students how to use AI effectively in practice,’ he said. ‘Professors need to use and understand AI themselves to teach it properly, and students also need systematic training on how to use these tools well.’

Beyond the classroom, the university also plans to introduce AI into administrative systems to improve campus operations. ‘Administration is often the hardest part of a university to change,’ Kim said. ‘That’s why we believe introducing AI into administrative systems first could be particularly meaningful.’

The university is also expanding research through its Glocal Lab project, which aims to strengthen Chungnam National University’s role in AI-driven pharmaceutical and biotechnology research. The initiative is expected to more directly connect academic research with industry and support the development of specialised talent, strengthening the university’s broader ambitions in AI-driven education and innovation.

Kim said, ‘Until now, there have been clear limits to translating the university’s strong basic research into applications in local industries. We expect the Glocal Lab project to help bridge that gap by connecting academic research more directly with the industrial field.’

The project will integrate AI, mathematical sciences, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology research into a unified R&D platform. ‘Ultimately, the Glocal Lab project will help the university grow into a global R&D hub,’ Kim said. ‘By creating high-quality jobs locally, it can also help curb the outflow of talented young people to the Seoul metropolitan area and foster a virtuous cycle of regional settlement and innovation.’

The university is also enhancing internationalisation efforts, aiming to increase the share of international students to 10 percent while expanding global partnerships and strengthening its global profile in AI-driven education. ‘Universities should take the lead in presenting new models in a global society,’ Kim said. ‘By doing so, these ideas can spread beyond campus and ultimately influence local industries and businesses.’

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Gigabyte pushes accessible AI computing strategy at Mobile World Congress

Taiwanese computer manufacturer Gigabyte is expanding its AI strategy, focusing on making AI computing more widely accessible. Speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Gigabyte outlined its vision of ‘democratising AI’ by delivering infrastructure that ranges from data centre systems to tools that allow individuals to build and run AI models at home.

‘We believe that AI will be good for everyone when it’s more accessible to more people,’ said Jack Chou, brand marketing specialist at Gigabyte Technology.

Founded in 1986, the company initially built its reputation as one of the world’s leading motherboard manufacturers. The company has since expanded into full-stack AI infrastructure, telecom networking systems, and specialised AI supercomputers.

According to Chou, the company’s strategy reflects a shift from traditional consumer computing toward broader empowerment through AI. ‘In the past, we provided computing solutions for end users that might be used more for entertainment and gaming, but now we believe we’re empowering more people with AI computing,’ he said.

Gigabyte is also exploring physical AI systems, including robots for tasks such as automated assembly line monitoring and quality control in manufacturing environments. These systems rely on AI models trained in data centres and deployed through embedded industrial computing platforms that allow machines to interact with real-world environments.

As demand for AI infrastructure grows, Gigabyte is prioritising sustainability by investing in energy-saving cooling technologies such as direct liquid and immersion cooling for its data centres.

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Sustainable AI discussed by UNESCO and Saudi leaders under Vision 2030

Leaders from government, academia, and industry gathered to emphasise that sustainable AI must shape efficient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible systems. The discussion focused on embedding sustainability, ethics, and human-centred principles throughout the AI lifecycle by adopting a sustainable-by-design approach.

The workshop was built on Saudi Arabia’s expanding role in AI and digital transformation through the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) and the National Strategy for Data and AI (NSDAI). The efforts are supported by significant investments in cloud infrastructure and data centres under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 programme. Participants highlighted that sustainable AI must become a core principle in the development of emerging digital infrastructure and AI-powered services.

Abdulrahman Habib, Director of the International Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE), highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing leadership in AI ethics and governance. With national AI Ethics Principles and a maturing regulatory landscape, the Kingdom is positioning itself as a global contributor to responsible AI dialogue, translating principles into operational governance systems rather than just policy statements.

Leona Verdadero of UNESCO highlighted two core concepts: Greening with AI, which uses AI to accelerate sustainability, and Greening of AI, which ensures systems are energy-efficient, ethical, and human-centred. She stressed that effective AI governance requires collaboration and industry leadership at every stage of development.

Per Ola Kristensson from the University of Cambridge urged action beyond rhetoric, stressing that true AI sustainability means developing technology to augment, not replace, human potential. Industry presentations reinforced that sustainable AI drives real-world progress. Companies like RECYCLEE optimise resource recovery, Remedium reduces environmental impacts in healthcare and infrastructure, and IDOM strengthens sustainability reporting through AI-enhanced design.

UNESCO supports Saudi Arabia’s drive for inclusive, ethical, and sustainable AI ecosystems, framing sustainable AI as critical in the global transition to green digital transformation.

Faisal Al Azib, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Saudi Arabia, stated: ‘As the Kingdom advances its digital transformation under Vision 2030, we have a responsibility to ensure that innovation advances hand in hand with sustainability and human dignity.’

Al Azib concluded: ‘Sustainable AI is central to building resilient, future-ready businesses. Through partnerships with UNESCO and our local ecosystem, we aim to equip companies with the governance tools to embed responsible, energy-efficient, and human-centred AI into their core strategies.’

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