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Davos 2026 reveals competing visions for AI

AI has dominated debates at Davos 2026, matching traditional concerns such as geopolitics and global trade while prompting deeper reflection on how the technology is reshaping work, governance, and society.

Political leaders, executives, and researchers agreed that AI development has moved beyond experimentation towards widespread implementation.

Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella argued that AI should deliver tangible benefits for communities and economies, while warning that adoption will remain uneven due to disparities in infrastructure and investment.

Access to energy networks, telecommunications, and capital was identified as a decisive factor in determining which regions can fully deploy advanced systems.

Other voices at Davos 2026 struck a more cautious tone. AI researcher Yoshua Bengio warned against designing systems that appear too human-like, stressing that people may overestimate machine understanding.

Philosopher Yuval Noah Harari echoed those concerns, arguing that societies lack experience in managing human and AI coexistence and should prepare mechanisms to correct failures.

The debate also centred on labour and global competition.

Anthropic’s Dario Amodei highlighted geopolitical risks and predicted disruption to entry-level white-collar jobs. At the same time, Google DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis forecast new forms of employment alongside calls for shared international safety standards.

Together, the discussions underscored growing recognition that AI governance will shape economic and social outcomes for years ahead.

Diplo is live reporting on all sessions from the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos.

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UNESCO raises alarm over government use of internet shutdowns

Yesterday, UNESCO expressed growing concern over the expanding use of internet shutdowns by governments seeking to manage political crises, protests, and electoral periods.

Recent data indicate that more than 300 shutdowns have occurred across over 54 countries during the past two years, with 2024 recorded as the most severe year since 2016.

According to UNESCO, restricting online access undermines the universal right to freedom of expression and weakens citizens’ ability to participate in social, cultural, and political life.

Access to information remains essential not only for democratic engagement but also for rights linked to education, assembly, and association, particularly during moments of instability.

Internet disruptions also place significant strain on journalists, media organisations, and public information systems that distribute verified news.

Instead of improving public order, shutdowns fracture information flows and contribute to the spread of unverified or harmful content, increasing confusion and mistrust among affected populations.

UNESCO continues to call on governments to adopt policies that strengthen connectivity and digital access rather than imposing barriers.

The organisation argues that maintaining open and reliable internet access during crises remains central to protecting democratic rights and safeguarding the integrity of information ecosystems.

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UK study tests social media restrictions on children’s mental health

A major UK research project will examine how restricting social media use affects children’s mental health, sleep, and social lives, as governments debate tougher rules for under-16s.

The trial involves around 4,000 pupils from 30 secondary schools in Bradford and represents one of the first large-scale experimental studies of its kind.

Participants aged 12 to 15 will either have their social media use monitored or restricted through a research app limiting access to major platforms to one hour per day and imposing a night-time curfew.

Messaging services such as WhatsApp will remain available instead of being restricted, reflecting their role in family communication.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Bradford Centre for Health Data Science will assess changes in anxiety, depression, sleep patterns, bullying, and time spent with friends and family.

Entire year groups within each school will experience the same conditions to capture social effects across peer networks rather than isolated individuals.

The findings, expected in summer 2027, arrive as UK lawmakers consider proposals for a nationwide ban on social media use by under-16s.

Although independent from government policy debates, the study aims to provide evidence to inform decisions in the UK and other countries weighing similar restrictions.

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Experts warn over unreliable AI medical guidance

AI tools used for health searches are facing growing scrutiny after reports found that some systems provide incorrect or potentially harmful medical advice. Wider public use of generative AI for health queries raises concerns over how such information is generated and verified.

An investigation by The Guardian found that Google AI Overview has sometimes produced guidance contrary to established medical advice. Attention has also focused on data sources, as platforms like ChatGPT frequently draw on user-generated or openly edited material.

Medical experts warn that unverified or outdated information poses risks, especially where clinical guidance changes rapidly. The European Lung Foundation has stressed that health-related AI outputs should meet the same standards as professional medical sources.

Efforts to counter misinformation are now expanding. The European Respiratory Society and its partners are running campaigns to protect public trust in science and encourage people to verify health information with qualified professionals.

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EU considers further action against Grok over AI nudification concerns

The European Commission has signalled readiness to escalate action against Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, following concerns over the spread of non-consensual sexualised images on the social media platform X.

The EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen told Members of the European Parliament that existing digital rules allow regulators to respond to risks linked to AI-driven nudification tools.

Grok has been associated with the circulation of digitally altered images depicting real people, including women and children, without consent. Virkkunen described such practices as unacceptable and stressed that protecting minors online remains a central priority for the EU enforcement under the Digital Services Act.

While no formal investigation has yet been launched, the Commission is examining whether X may breach the DSA and has already ordered the platform to retain internal information related to Grok until the end of 2026.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also publicly condemned the creation of sexualised AI images without consent.

The controversy has intensified calls from EU lawmakers to strengthen regulation, with several urging an explicit ban on AI-powered nudification under the forthcoming AI Act.

A debate that reflects wider international pressure on governments to address the misuse of generative AI technologies and reinforce safeguards across digital platforms.

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European Parliament moves to force AI companies to pay news publishers

Lawmakers in the EU are moving closer to forcing technology companies to pay news publishers for the use of journalistic material in model training, according to a draft copyright report circulating in the European Parliament.

The text forms part of a broader effort to update copyright enforcement as automated content systems expand across media and information markets.

Compromise amendments also widen the scope beyond payment obligations, bringing AI-generated deepfakes and synthetic manipulation into sharper focus.

MEPs argue that existing legal tools fail to offer sufficient protection for publishers, journalists and citizens when automated systems reproduce or distort original reporting.

The report reflects growing concern that platform-driven content extraction undermines the sustainability of professional journalism. Lawmakers are increasingly framing compensation mechanisms as a corrective measure rather than as voluntary licensing or opaque commercial arrangements.

If adopted, the position of the Parliament would add further regulatory pressure on large technology firms already facing tighter scrutiny under the Digital Markets Act and related digital legislation, reinforcing Europe’s push to assert control over data use, content value and democratic safeguards.

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Labour MPs press Starmer to consider UK under-16s social media ban

Pressure is growing on Keir Starmer after more than 60 Labour MPs called for a UK ban on social media use for under-16s, arguing that children’s online safety requires firmer regulation instead of voluntary platform measures.

The signatories span Labour’s internal divides, including senior parliamentarians and former frontbenchers, signalling broad concern over the impact of social media on young people’s well-being, education and mental health.

Supporters of the proposal point to Australia’s recently implemented ban as a model worth following, suggesting that early evidence could guide UK policy development rather than prolonged inaction.

Starmer is understood to favour a cautious approach, preferring to assess the Australian experience before endorsing legislation, as peers prepare to vote on related measures in the coming days.

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Finnish data breach exposed thousands of patients

A major data breach at Finnish psychotherapy provider Vastaamo exposed the private therapy records of around 33,000 patients in 2020. Hackers demanded bitcoin payments and threatened to publish deeply personal notes if victims refused to pay.

Among those affected was Meri-Tuuli Auer, who described intense fear after learning her confidential therapy details could be accessed online. Stolen records included discussions of mental health, abuse, and suicidal thoughts, causing nationwide shock.

The breach became the largest criminal investigation in Finland, prompting emergency government talks led by then prime minister Sanna Marin. Despite efforts to stop the leak, the full database had already circulated on the dark web.

Finnish courts later convicted cybercriminal Julius Kivimäki, sentencing him to more than six years in prison. Many victims say the damage remains permanent, with trust in therapy and digital health systems severely weakened.

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Council of Europe highlights legal frameworks for AI fairness

The Council of Europe recently hosted an online event to examine the challenges posed by algorithmic discrimination and explore ways to strengthen governance frameworks for AI and automated decision-making (ADM) systems.

Two new publications were presented, focusing on legal protections against algorithmic bias and policy guidelines for equality bodies and human rights institutions.

Algorithmic bias has been shown to exacerbate existing social inequalities. In employment, AI systems trained on historical data may unfairly favour male candidates or disadvantage minority groups.

Public authorities also use AI in law enforcement, migration, welfare, justice, education, and healthcare, where profiling, facial recognition, and other automated tools can carry discriminatory risks. Private-sector applications in banking, insurance, and personnel services similarly raise concerns.

Legal frameworks such as the EU AI Act (2024/1689) and the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on AI, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law aim to mitigate these risks. The publications review how regulations protect against algorithmic discrimination and highlight remaining gaps.

National equality bodies and human rights structures play a key role in monitoring AI/ADM systems, ensuring compliance, and promoting human rights-based deployment.

The webinar highlighted practical guidance and examples for applying EU and Council of Europe rules to public sector AI initiatives, fostering more equitable and accountable systems.

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Brazil excluded from WhatsApp rival AI chatbot ban

WhatsApp has excluded Brazil from its new restriction on third-party general-purpose chatbots, allowing AI providers to continue operating on the platform despite a broader policy shift affecting other markets.

The decision follows action by the competition authority of Brazil, which ordered Meta to suspend elements of the policy while assessing whether the rules unfairly disadvantage rival chatbot providers in favour of Meta AI.

Developers have been informed that services linked to Brazilian phone numbers do not need to stop responding to users or issue service warnings.

Elsewhere, WhatsApp has introduced a 90-day grace period starting in mid-January, requiring chatbot developers to halt responses and notify users that services will no longer function on the app.

The policy applies to tools such as ChatGPT and Grok, while customer service bots used by businesses remain unaffected.

Italy has already secured a similar exemption after regulatory scrutiny, while the EU has opened an antitrust investigation into the new rules.

Meta continues to argue that general-purpose AI chatbots place technical strain on systems designed for business messaging instead of acting as an open distribution platform for AI services.

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