Russia is moving to integrate cryptocurrency into everyday finance as lawmakers prepare a bill to allow retail participation under clear limits. The draft would remove crypto from special regulation, signalling broader adoption for the public.
Under the proposed framework, non-qualified investors would be able to buy crypto up to 300,000 rubles, roughly $3,800. Officials emphasise that these limits aim to prevent excessive speculation while providing controlled exposure to digital assets.
The move marks a significant change after years of tight restrictions and cautious oversight from financial authorities.
The legislation is designed with international use in mind, allowing tokens issued in Russia to participate in foreign markets and supporting cross-border settlements. Policymakers aim to integrate crypto into the economy while protecting retail investors.
Regulators, including the Bank of Russia and the Finance Ministry, continue to stress the importance of risk management. Limits and risk checks will ensure retail crypto use remains secure.
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Elon Musk’s X has limited the image editing functions of its Grok AI tool after criticism over the creation of sexualised images of real people.
The platform said technological safeguards have been introduced to block such content in regions where it is illegal, following growing concern from governments and regulators.
UK officials described the move as a positive step, although regulatory scrutiny remains ongoing.
Authorities are examining whether X complied with existing laws, while similar investigations have been launched in the US amid broader concerns over the misuse of AI-generated imagery.
International pressure has continued to build, with some countries banning Grok entirely instead of waiting for platform-led restrictions.
Policy experts have welcomed stronger controls but questioned how effectively X can identify real individuals and enforce its updated rules across different jurisdictions.
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A senior PwC expert has outlined how AI can play a pivotal role in speeding up the transition to clean energy, particularly by improving forecasting, enhancing operational efficiency and enabling smarter planning of renewable systems.
According to the specialist, AI tools can analyse complex data from wind, solar and grid systems to predict output and optimise maintenance, helping utilities and policymakers make better decisions in real time.
AI also supports decarbonisation by modelling scenarios for energy demand and emissions, allowing energy planners to prioritise investments in technologies that deliver the most impact.
The expert emphasised that data integration and digital infrastructure are essential to unlock these benefits at scale, and cautioned that firms must pair AI’s technical capabilities with strong governance and clear regulatory frameworks.
PwC’s perspective reflects a broader industry belief that AI will be integral to managing increasingly complex energy systems, especially as countries pursue net-zero targets and integrate variable renewables into their grids.
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The tech giant, IBM, has announced IBM Sovereign Core, a new software offering designed to help organisations deploy and manage AI-ready environments under sovereign control.
The product addresses growing regulatory and governance requirements as enterprises and governments seek greater authority over data, infrastructure and AI operations.
Digital sovereignty, according to IBM, extends beyond where data is stored and includes who controls systems, how access is governed and under which jurisdiction AI workloads operate.
IBM Sovereign Core is positioned as a foundational software layer that embeds sovereignty into operations instead of applying controls after deployment.
Built on Red Hat’s open-source technologies, the software enables customer-operated control planes, in-jurisdiction identity management and continuous compliance reporting. AI workloads, including inference and model hosting, can be governed locally without exporting data to external providers.
IBM plans to offer the software across on-premises environments, in-region cloud infrastructure and through selected service providers.
A technology preview is expected to begin in February, with full general availability planned for mid-2026.
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SEC Chair Paul Atkins says US crypto market structure legislation is close to becoming law, with President Donald Trump expected to sign it soon. The move aims to end regulatory uncertainty and provide clear legal foundations for digital asset markets.
Atkins has openly backed Congress in defining the jurisdictional split between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, arguing that statutory clarity is essential for protecting investors and supporting institutional growth.
Supporters believe clear rules will replace enforcement-led interpretation and allow the sector to mature within established financial frameworks.
Progress is moving through Congress, with the Senate Banking Committee advancing the CLARITY Act while the Agriculture Committee continues negotiations. Despite disagreements and amendments, bipartisan support suggests the bill could reach the White House by the end of the first quarter.
Looking ahead, Atkins has linked the bill to long-term US competitiveness, stating that clear and principled regulation will encourage innovation and attract capital. Coordination between the SEC, CFTC and the White House is expected to be central to implementation.
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TSMC reported a strong fourth-quarter performance, posting a 35 percent rise in profit to a record level, supported by sustained demand for advanced chips.
The company forecast robust growth for 2026, citing continued customer interest and tight capacity, while highlighting expectations for a significant increase in revenue in the first quarter of the year.
The Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer confirmed that capital spending reached US$40.9 billion in 2025, slightly above earlier guidance, and indicated further increases ahead, with investment potentially rising to as much as US$56 billion in 2026 and accelerating later in the decade.
Ongoing projects include additional manufacturing capacity in the US, expansion in Japan, and continued investment in Taiwan.
TSMC also signalled that more US facilities may be planned, following earlier commitments to large-scale investment in Arizona.
Developments come amid discussions between Taiwan and the US on trade and tariffs, as well as broader policy efforts in Washington to encourage domestic semiconductor production.
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Engineers at the University of Pennsylvania have found that foams, long assumed to behave like static glass, remain in constant internal motion while preserving their outward form.
Computer simulations revealed that bubbles in wet foams continue shifting through many configurations instead of settling into fixed positions.
Researchers observed that this behaviour closely mirrors the mathematics behind deep learning, where AI systems repeatedly adjust internal parameters during training. Instead of converging on a single optimal state, both foams and AI models operate within broad solution spaces that allow flexibility and resilience.
The study challenges earlier theories that treated foam bubbles as particles trapped in low-energy states. A revised mathematical approach shows that continuous reorganisation offers stability at a larger scale, rather than undermining structural integrity.
The findings suggest that learning-like dynamics may represent a broader organising principle across materials science, biology and computation.
Researchers believe the insight could inform the design of adaptive materials and improve understanding of dynamic biological structures such. as cellular scaffolding.
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France’s health watchdog has warned that social media harms adolescent mental health, particularly among younger girls. The assessment is based on a five-year scientific review of existing research.
ANSES said online platforms amplify harmful pressures, cyberbullying and unrealistic beauty standards. Experts found that girls, LGBT youths and vulnerable teens face higher psychological risks.
France is debating legislation to ban social media access for children under 15. President Emmanuel Macron supports stronger age restrictions and platform accountability.
The watchdog urged changes to algorithms and default settings to prioritise child well-being. Similar debates have emerged globally following Australia’s introduction of a teenage platform ban.
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AI is no longer confined to chatbots and content tools. In the food and beverage sector, companies are utilising advanced AI systems to forecast consumer trends, expedite product development, and explore new ingredients for future products.
Mars, the multinational behind brands such as Dolmio, Pedigree, and Mars bars, is using AI to support its health and sustainability goals. Darren Logan, vice president of research at the Mars Advanced Research Institute, said the company is exploring plant compounds and alternative proteins.
Fermentation is also expanding Mars’ ingredient research by generating new chemical compounds through interactions between plants and microbes. Logan said combining plants with microbes increases chemical diversity, producing substances that would not otherwise exist.
The chocolate manufacturer partnered with UC Davis spin-out PIPA and its AI research platform LEAP to support this work. The system constructs knowledge graphs utilising scientific literature, databases, and the company’s proprietary data to establish connections between ingredients, microbes, and human health.
Logan said the platform helps reduce the time and cost of experimentation by guiding researchers towards more promising test options. Human oversight remains central to every AI-assisted decision.
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The UK government has dropped plans for mandatory digital ID for workers. Ministers say existing right-to-work checks will be digitised instead.
Labour had argued compulsory digital ID would curb illegal working and fraud in the UK. Under the revised plan, checks will become fully online by 2029, without the need for a new standalone ID system.
The reversal follows a political backlash, collapsing public support and concern among Labour MPs. Keir Starmer faced criticism over unclear messaging and repeated recent policy U-turns.
Ministers say platforms like Gov.uk One Login remain central to reform. Regulators, including Ofcom, continue to oversee digital compliance and worker protections.
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