Economic

Greece and the European Commission strengthen AI cooperation for public services

Greece and the European Commission have reinforced cooperation on AI through a conference held during the BEYOND 2026 exhibition, bringing together policymakers, academics, technology experts and citizens to discuss the future of AI in Europe.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Dimitris Papastergiou emphasised the importance of responsible and innovative AI adoption to improve public services, drive digital transformation and strengthen Greece’s competitiveness.

European Commission Director-General for Translation Christos Ellinides outlined the EU’s approach to AI, highlighting initiatives that support innovation, multilingualism and digital transformation across member states.

Commission experts presented AI-powered multilingual services and digital tools designed to improve communication, accessibility and collaboration across the European Union. Discussions also explored the opportunities and challenges associated with AI deployment, while emphasising the importance of maintaining a human-centric approach to technological development.

The conference concluded with calls for closer cooperation between European institutions and national authorities to develop reliable, secure and human-centric AI systems. Organisers said the initiative reflects Greece’s commitment to advancing digital transformation and strengthening its role within the emerging European AI ecosystem.

Why does it matter?

The conference highlights how AI policy in Europe is increasingly being shaped through cooperation between EU institutions and national governments. As countries seek to deploy AI across public services, education and digital infrastructure, coordination will be important for ensuring interoperability, trust and compliance with European regulatory frameworks.

The event also reflects Europe’s broader approach to AI governance, which aims to balance innovation with safeguards related to transparency, security and fundamental rights. By promoting multilingual AI tools, citizen-centred services and cross-border collaboration, initiatives such as this support the EU’s wider objectives of digital sovereignty, competitiveness and inclusive digital transformation.

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Malta launches consultation on regulating decentralised finance under MiCA

Malta’s Financial Services Authority (MFSA) has launched a consultation on how decentralised finance (DeFi) could be incorporated into the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), focusing on governance, accountability, and the practical definition of decentralisation.

The consultation reflects growing uncertainty over how existing crypto rules should apply to DeFi protocols that combine automated processes with varying degrees of human oversight and control.

Regulators note that while MiCA excludes services operating in a fully decentralised manner without intermediaries, many DeFi protocols retain centralised features such as administrator privileges, upgrade controls and concentrated governance structures.

The MFSA suggests that decentralisation should be assessed along a spectrum rather than treated as a binary concept, raising the possibility of a standardised assessment framework to determine whether a protocol falls within regulatory scope.

The paper also explores whether regulated crypto firms should be required to assess smart contracts, governance structures and risk-management frameworks before integrating DeFi protocols into regulated services.

Additional considerations include legal structures for decentralised organisations and oversight mechanisms such as automated ‘guardian agents’ designed to monitor compliance with predefined governance and predefined risk parameters.

Why does it matter? 

The consultation targets one of the most unresolved areas in European crypto regulation: where decentralisation ends, and regulated financial activity begins. Without a clear and consistent definition, DeFi projects can fall into regulatory grey zones that create uneven enforcement across member states and complicate risk supervision for cross-border services.

Establishing whether decentralisation is treated as a spectrum could significantly reshape compliance obligations, determining which protocols must meet MiCA standards and which remain outside its scope, ultimately affecting innovation, investor protection, and regulatory certainty across the EU crypto ecosystem.

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OECD publishes AI literacy framework for schools

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published a new report, ‘Empowering Learners for the Age of AI‘, outlining an AI literacy framework for primary and secondary education.

According to the OECD, AI is becoming increasingly embedded in everyday digital life and is influencing civic, professional and social outcomes. The organisation argues that education systems must equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to understand, evaluate and use AI responsibly.

The report defines AI literacy as a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable learners to understand how AI systems function, critically evaluate their outputs and use them ethically, responsibly and creatively.

The OECD said the framework outlines learning outcomes for primary and secondary students and is intended to support policymakers, educators, schools and families in fostering AI literacy both inside and outside the classroom. The report was published on 18 June 2026.

Why does it matter?

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into education, work, public services and everyday life, AI literacy is emerging as a foundational skill alongside traditional digital literacy. Understanding how AI systems operate, where their limitations lie and how their outputs should be evaluated will be important for informed participation in society and the economy.

The OECD framework also reflects a broader policy shift from focusing solely on access to technology toward developing the skills needed to use AI responsibly and critically. By providing a common reference point for educators and policymakers, the framework could help shape future curricula, teacher training programmes and national education strategies aimed at preparing students for an AI-enabled world.

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Digital Decade report showcases Spain’s progress in AI and connectivity

Spain has strengthened its position as one of the EU’s leading digital economies, according to the European Commission’s 2026 State of the Digital Decade report.

The assessment highlights Spain’s strong performance in connectivity, digital public services, AI adoption and digital skills, with the country outperforming the EU average across several key indicators.

The report notes that Spain remains a European leader in digital infrastructure. Spain has the highest share of internet connections delivering speeds of 100 Mbps or more and ranks second in fibre-optic coverage across the EU. Fibre networks now reach almost 96% of the population, while 5G coverage exceeds 99% nationwide and nearly 96% in rural areas.

The Commission also highlighted investments in submarine cables and connectivity programmes that have reinforced Spain’s role as a key digital gateway between Europe, Africa and Latin America.

Spain also continues to rank among the EU’s top performers in digital public services. The Commission cited improvements to the ‘Mi Carpeta Ciudadana’ platform, which expanded services and incorporated user feedback during 2025.

Spain also ranks among Europe’s best performers in prefilled administrative forms, helping citizens interact more efficiently with public authorities. Digital services for both citizens and businesses remain significantly above the EU average.

The report also highlights the growing adoption of advanced technologies by Spanish businesses. AI adoption among Spanish businesses increased from 11.3% in 2024 to 20.3% in 2025, slightly above the EU average.

Data analytics adoption reached 47.1%, while digitalisation among small and medium-sized enterprises continued to improve through initiatives such as Kit Digital, Kit Consulting and Acelera Pyme.

The Commission also highlighted Spain’s commitment to quantum technologies, cybersecurity resilience and digital skills development, with 66.5% of the population now possessing at least basic digital skills.

Why does it matter?

Spain’s performance illustrates how sustained investment in digital infrastructure, public services and innovation can translate into broader economic and technological competitiveness. High levels of fibre connectivity, widespread digital public services and growing AI adoption provide a foundation for productivity growth and support the country’s position within Europe’s digital economy.

The findings are also relevant to the EU’s broader ambitions around technological sovereignty. As Europe seeks to reduce strategic dependencies in critical technologies, countries such as Spain are becoming important contributors to the bloc’s digital capacity through investments in connectivity, cybersecurity, quantum technologies and digital skills. Continued progress in these areas will be important for meeting the EU’s 2030 Digital Decade objectives.

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Mavenir and Red Hat launch AI platform for telecom monetisation

Mavenir has announced an integrated AI platform developed with Red Hat that aims to help network operators monetise AI services through token-based consumption plans.

The platform is designed to allow operators to offer AI services in a manner similar to mobile data plans, with token-based usage billed through existing customer billing systems. Mavenir says operators will retain control over pricing, service-level agreements, and the models powering AI interactions.

According to Mavenir, the platform supports three operating models. Operators can use it to deliver their own branded AI services to subscribers, provide an AI infrastructure layer for AI grid deployments, or offer managed AI capabilities to enterprise customers on a token-based consumption basis.

The system uses Red Hat AI and Kubernetes infrastructure powered by Red Hat OpenShift. Mavenir says the architecture is designed to provide operators with a flexible, sovereignty-focused platform capable of running on-premises models and customised small language models for routine workloads.

The platform also supports policy-governed access to external frontier AI models for tasks requiring advanced reasoning or multimodal capabilities. Mavenir says operators can decide which model handles each request, who pays for it, and how it is billed.

Mavenir argues that operators can leverage existing billing and service-management systems to create new AI revenue streams, as token-based AI consumption mirrors familiar data-usage models. It said monthly AI token plans, enterprise quotas, and SLA-backed AI service tiers could create a new monetisation layer on top of connectivity.

The integrated AI platform combines Mavenir’s AI software platform with Red Hat’s enterprise Kubernetes and AI capabilities, delivered on validated hardware from third-party partners. The platform includes intelligent model routing, token optimisation, AI platform-as-a-service and MLOps capabilities, token charging, billing integration, closed-loop service assurance, zero-trust identity controls, and AI-specific security.

For enterprise customers, the platform enables operators to offer metered access to AI models, compute resources and AI tools as value-added services. For AI grid deployments, operators can use it as the compute and AI fabric for network-embedded AI applications and third-party workloads.

Operators can also use the platform to provide AI-powered products directly to subscribers, including AI assistant plans billed by token consumption, AI-enhanced network services, and operator-branded AI applications.

Mavenir says the platform is designed to support new AI revenue streams, predictable AI economics, data sovereignty, contractual SLAs for operator-managed AI services, and enterprise-grade security. The company will showcase the platform at DTW Ignite 2026 from 23 to 25 June.

Why does it matter?

Telecom operators are looking for ways to move beyond connectivity revenue as demand for AI services grows. Token-based billing could let operators package AI services in a familiar commercial model, using existing customer relationships, billing systems, and service-level agreements.

The announcement also points to a broader shift in AI infrastructure. By combining on-premises models, sovereign data controls, and selective access to frontier models, operators could position themselves as AI service providers for consumers, enterprises, and network-embedded applications rather than only as connectivity providers.

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New task automation tools arrive in ChatGPT

ChatGPT has expanded its Scheduled Tasks functionality with a dedicated management page and improved task creation and editing workflows. Users can now create both one-time and recurring tasks, including requests for notifications when relevant updates or changes occur.

Tasks can be created directly through conversation or via the sidebar’s Scheduled page, offering greater flexibility in how automated reminders are set. Notifications can be delivered through push alerts and email across supported web and mobile platforms, subject to user permissions and device settings.

Some limitations remain, including restricted access to project-stored files and certain workspace environments.

Users can view, edit, pause or delete scheduled tasks either through settings or directly within conversations. The number of active tasks available depends on subscription tier, ranging from three on entry-level plans to fifteen on higher-tier subscriptions.

Feature constraints also apply, with voice chats and GPT-based workflows not supported in task creation, while availability extends across supported models and platforms globally.

Why does it matter?

The expansion of scheduled tasks accelerates the integration of AI chatbots into everyday digital infrastructure, shifting them from on-demand assistants to continuous workflow tools embedded in personal and professional routines.

It also reinforces the broader trend of automation in knowledge work, where AI systems increasingly handle monitoring, reminders, and information tracking at scale, reshaping expectations around productivity and real-time decision support.

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EU’s 2026 State of the Digital Decade report highlights progress and remaining challenges

The European Commission’s 2026 State of the Digital Decade report shows that the EU continues to make progress towards its digital transformation goals, although significant structural challenges remain on the path to its 2030 targets.

The report highlights progress in digital infrastructure, business digitalisation and public services. Basic 5G coverage now reaches 96.8% of households, while nearly one in five businesses uses AI.

AI adoption accelerated significantly during 2025, increasing by 48% compared with the previous year. More than 60% of Europeans now possess at least basic digital skills.

Despite the progress, the Commission identified several areas requiring urgent attention. However, the EU currently accounts for only 9% of the global semiconductor market, well below its target of reaching 20% by 2030.

Europe also remains heavily dependent on non-EU cybersecurity suppliers and continues to face shortages of ICT specialists, particularly women in digital professions.

The report also revealed strong public support for digital sovereignty and technological self-reliance. According to a new Eurobarometer survey, most citizens support greater investment in local digital infrastructure, reduced dependence on foreign technologies and stronger regulation of AI.

Citizens also identified digital health, green technologies, connectivity and AI as areas likely to deliver the greatest benefits over the next decade.

Why does it matter?

The report provides one of the most comprehensive assessments of Europe’s progress towards its 2030 Digital Decade objectives and offers insight into the EU’s broader competitiveness agenda. Strong growth in AI adoption, connectivity and digital public services suggests that digital transformation is accelerating across the Union.

At the same time, the findings highlight persistent challenges related to technological sovereignty. Europe’s limited share of the global semiconductor market, continued dependence on foreign technology suppliers, and ongoing digital skills shortages could constrain its long-term competitiveness. As the EU increasingly links economic resilience, security and digital policy, addressing these gaps will be critical to achieving its 2030 ambitions and strengthening strategic autonomy in key technologies.

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US backs photonics expansion for AI data centres under CHIPS Act

The Department of Commerce’s CHIPS Program Office has signed a letter of intent to provide up to $50 million in direct funding to Coherent Corp. under the CHIPS and Science Act.

According to the CHIPS Program Office, the proposed funding would support the expansion of Coherent’s facility in Sherman, Texas, which it describes as the first and largest high-volume 150mm indium phosphide semiconductor manufacturing facility in the United States.

The expansion would add wafer fabrication equipment and cleanroom capacity to increase production of indium phosphide-based photonic components. These components are used in high-speed optical interconnects that enable rapid data transfer within advanced AI data centres.

The Department of Commerce said the project would create high-skilled manufacturing jobs and strengthen domestic supply chains for critical photonics technologies that support next-generation computing and AI infrastructure.

Why does it matter?

The announcement highlights the growing importance of photonics technologies in the AI economy. As demand for AI computing continues to rise, data centres require increasingly efficient methods for transferring vast amounts of information between processors, servers and storage systems. Optical interconnect technologies based on indium phosphide semiconductors are becoming a critical part of that infrastructure.

The investment also reflects broader US industrial policy goals under the CHIPS and Science Act. Beyond traditional semiconductor manufacturing, policymakers are increasingly targeting specialised components and supply chains considered strategically important for AI competitiveness, economic security and technological resilience.

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US lawmakers back housing bill with ban on CBDC until 2030

US lawmakers have agreed on a bipartisan housing affordability bill that includes a provision preventing the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) until the end of 2030. The measure was incorporated into the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which is primarily focused on increasing housing supply and improving affordability.

The agreement follows months of negotiations between the House and Senate, with the Senate passing its amended version in March 2026 by a vote of 89 to 10. The inclusion of the CBDC restriction reflects longstanding political concerns about privacy, government surveillance and the potential implications of a state-issued digital dollar.

Alongside housing reforms, the legislation seeks to limit the acquisition of single-family homes by large institutional investors, with the aim of improving access for first-time buyers. Lawmakers behind the bill include key bipartisan figures in the Senate Banking Committee, signalling broad support for the package.

Market observers suggest the restriction could benefit private stablecoin issuers by reducing the prospect of competition from a government-backed digital currency. While the measure sets a clear policy direction through 2030, debates over the future of a US CBDC are likely to continue as other countries advance their own central bank digital currency initiatives.

Why does it matter?

The measure represents a significant development in the US debate over digital currencies, effectively delaying any potential retail CBDC issued by the Federal Reserve for several years. It reflects persistent concerns among policymakers about privacy, surveillance and the role of government in digital payments, while signalling growing political support for market-based alternatives.

The decision could also influence the broader global competition around digital currencies. As countries including China, the European Union and several emerging economies continue exploring or deploying CBDCs, the United States appears to be taking a more cautious approach. This may strengthen the role of private-sector solutions such as stablecoins while raising questions about the long-term direction of US digital currency strategy.

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South Korea and Saudi Arabia expand cooperation on AI and digital transformation

South Korea and Saudi Arabia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in AI and digital transformation as part of a broader partnership spanning energy, advanced industries and critical mineral supply chains.

The agreement was signed in Riyadh by South Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-Kwan and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.

While the memorandum includes cooperation in oil and gas, a key focus is the use of AI and digital technologies to modernise energy infrastructure, improve resource management and enhance operational efficiency.

The two countries also agreed to expand collaboration in advanced technology sectors, including AI, digital innovation and emerging industrial technologies. The partnership aims to combine Saudi Arabia’s resource base with South Korea’s industrial and technological capabilities to support future economic growth and industrial development.

Officials described the agreement as an important step towards deeper cooperation in emerging technologies, with AI expected to play an increasingly important role in energy innovation, supply-chain resilience and industrial transformation.

Why does it matter?

The agreement highlights how AI is becoming an increasingly important component of industrial and energy policy. Governments are no longer viewing AI solely as a digital technology sector, but as a tool for improving efficiency, resilience and competitiveness across strategic industries such as energy, manufacturing and resource management.

The partnership also reflects a broader trend of linking technological cooperation with economic diversification and supply-chain security. By combining Saudi Arabia’s resource strengths with South Korea’s technological and industrial expertise, the two countries are seeking to position themselves more strongly within the evolving global landscape of AI-driven industrial development.

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