Future of work

Vanity Fair publisher penalised for cookie breaches

France’s data regulator fined Les Publications Condé Nast €750,000 for unlawful cookie practices on vanityfair.fr. Investigators found consent-based cookies loading immediately when visitors landed on the site.

CNIL officials also noted unclear information describing several trackers as strictly necessary without explaining their true purposes. Users faced further issues when refusal tools failed to block or halt consent-based cookies.

Repeated non-compliance weighed heavily, as the company had already received a formal order in 2021. Earlier proceedings had been closed after corrective steps, yet later inspections showed renewed breaches.

The French regulator stated that millions of visitors were potentially affected by the unlawful tracking activity. The case highlights continuing enforcement efforts under Article 82 of France’s Data Protection Act.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

ByteDance launches AI voice assistant for phones

ByteDance unveiled a new AI voice assistant that will debut on ZTE’s Nubia M153 smartphone. The tool uses the Doubao large language model to handle spoken tasks such as content searches and ticket bookings.

ZTE’s shares jumped after the announcement, helped by strong interest in the device and recent 5G contract wins in Vietnam. The prototype handset is priced at 3,499 yuan and can be pre-ordered in limited quantities.

ByteDance confirmed discussions with multiple manufacturers to integrate the assistant into future smartphones. The firm stated it has no intention of developing its own hardware.

The assistant enters a competitive market led by Huawei and Xiaomi, while Apple has yet to introduce Apple Intelligence in China. Doubao remains China’s most popular consumer AI app, with 159 million monthly active users.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

EU members raise concerns over the Digital Networks Act

Six EU member states urged the Union to reconsider the direction of the Digital Networks Act by asking for greater room for national decision-making.

Their joint position emphasised the wish to retain authority over frequency management and questioned proposals that could expand telecom rules into the digital services sector.

An intervention that followed previous debates at the ministerial level, where governments signalled reluctance to introduce new interconnection measures and stressed the need to consider the specific roles of different actors across the value chain instead of applying a single regulatory model to all.

Consumer groups and business organisations voiced further doubts as plans for network fees resurfaced in recent discussions. They argued that earlier consultations had already shown major risks for competition, innovation, and net neutrality, making renewed consideration unnecessary.

The US–EU trade agreement added another layer by including a clause that commits the EU to avoid such fees, leaving open how the Commission will balance domestic expectations with international obligations.

The Digital Networks Act faced an additional setback when the EU’s Regulatory Scrutiny Board delivered a negative opinion about its preparedness. That view disrupted earlier hopes of releasing a draft before the end of the year.

Even so, the Commission is expected to present an updated proposal in January 2026, setting the stage for one of the most difficult legislative debates of the coming year.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

EU-South Korea digital partnership enhances collaboration

The European Union and the Republic of Korea strengthened their digital partnership during the third Digital Partnership Council meeting in Seoul, where both sides emphasised the value of deeper cooperation in advanced technologies.

The discussions focused on how joint research on semiconductors, 6G, AI and quantum technologies can support competitiveness and provide broader economic benefits.

Both sides agreed to continue collaborative work on semiconductor research to advance more efficient chips suitable for AI and automated mobility. Quantum research under Horizon Europe is set to expand through shared expertise and long-term cooperation.

Regulatory alignment on AI will progress through dialogue on conformity assessment results linked to the EU AI Act, supported by joint work on innovation, standardisation and safety evaluation.

Information exchange on emerging data spaces is also expected to grow, with both partners assessing whether a dedicated working group could enhance interoperability.

Cyber cooperation remains a priority, covering threat information sharing, software supply chain security and the safety of connected devices, combined with efforts to strengthen skills and explore new research.

Engagement in international standardisation bodies such as the International Telecommunications Union will continue to support broader global alignment. The two partners plan to meet again in Brussels in 2026 to assess progress.

The partnership reflects broader EU objectives in the Indo-Pacific and supports the goals of the International Digital Strategy.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Estonia invests in Germany to strengthen European tech independence

During an official visit to Germany, Prime Minister Kristen Michal joined Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer to open a new Skeleton Technologies factory near Leipzig, underlining Estonia’s long-term commitment to European technological development.

An investment of 220 million euros that marks the most significant industrial commitment an Estonian company has made in Germany and reflects a shift towards mutual economic engagement.

The factory produces supercapacitors that aim to reduce energy consumption in AI data centres while enhancing the reliability of the power grid.

Michal noted that the relationship between the two countries has entered a new phase, as Estonia is now investing in Germany, rather than only receiving investment. He pointed to Germany’s industrial capacity and Estonia’s digital expertise as complementary strengths.

The project benefited from financial and strategic support through programmes such as EUBatIn, while partnerships with Siemens and Marubeni strengthened the technological foundation of the initiative.

Cooperation between Estonia and Saxony already extends across innovation, microelectronics and digital public services.

Several Estonian technology firms operate in the region, while universities in both countries maintain active collaboration in engineering, IT and business administration. These links continue to grow and support talent, research and industrial development.

The new factory is presented as a practical step towards European technological resilience, as the components used in the supercapacitors are sourced from European suppliers.

Estonian officials argue that Europe must develop and produce key technologies instead of relying on external suppliers. The opening of the plant is seen as the beginning of broader cooperation in IT, green technology, defence and advanced manufacturing.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Salesforce expands investment in Greece with Greek AgentForce

The presence in Greece is expanding as Salesforce increases its investment and introduces AgentForce in the Greek language.

Salesforce works with major Greek groups such as Motor Oil and OPAP and plans to enter more sectors, including banking and insurance. Senior executives view Greece as a market with strong potential for broader adoption of AI tools.

Executives at the company highlighted growing interest among Greek firms that are already testing or deploying AI agents to support customer services and internal operations.

Robin Fisher, Senior Vice President for the EMEA Growth Markets, noted that the organisation has doubled the number of staff supporting the Greek market over the past two years and intends to continue increasing its investment every three years or sooner.

He also pointed to the presence of Energy Cloud in Greek enterprises and the rapid development of new AI agents for local clients.

The introduction of AgentForce in the Greek language is expected to help companies manage processes more efficiently and support a more profound digital transformation. The initial release covers AgentForce Service and Employee Agent, with broader availability planned for the future.

AgentForce Service operates as a constantly available customer service platform that can be adapted to any sector, offering faster issue resolution and more personalised assistance based on real-time data.

Its design enables full cooperation between employees and AI agents, providing a more effective service model.

Employee Agent functions as a proactive digital assistant that supports staff with daily tasks inside familiar environments, such as Slack or mobile devices. It can manage meetings, assist with onboarding, access internal knowledge and prepare summaries before client discussions.

Salesforce emphasises that the broader rollout of Greek language support will help organisations improve productivity and achieve greater efficiency by combining human expertise with automated capabilities.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

New digital strategy positions Uzbekistan as emerging AI hub

Uzbekistan has outlined an extensive plan to accelerate digital development by introducing new measures at major AI forums in Tashkent.

The leadership detailed a national effort to strengthen the domestic AI ecosystem, supported by a supercomputer cluster built with Nvidia and a National Transfer Office established in Silicon Valley.

AI-focused curricula will be introduced across regional Future Centres to broaden access to advanced training.

A strong emphasis has been placed on nurturing young talent. An annual interschool competition will identify promising AI startup ideas. At the same time, a presidential contest will select one hundred young participants each year for internships in leading technology companies in the US, the UAE and Europe.

November will be marked as ‘AI month for youth’, and the Silk Road AI Forum will become a recurring event.

A central part of the strategy is the ‘five million AI leaders’ project, which aims to train millions of students, along with teachers and public servants, by 2030. The programme will integrate AI education across schools, vocational institutions and universities instead of limiting it to specialist groups.

The government highlighted the country’s growing appeal for technology investment. Nearly two billion dollars have already been secured for AI and digital projects, IT service exports have risen sharply, and startup activity has expanded significantly.

Work has begun on a central green data centre, developed in collaboration with a Saudi partner, as Uzbekistan seeks to strengthen its position in regional digital innovation.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Utah governor urges state control over AI rules

Utah’s governor, Spencer Cox, has again argued that states should retain authority over AI policy, warning that centralised national rules might fail to reflect local needs. He said state governments remain closer to communities and, therefore, better placed to respond quickly to emerging risks.

Cox explained that innovation often moves faster than federal intervention, and excessive national control could stifle responsible development. He also emphasised that different states face varied challenges, suggesting that tailored AI rules may be more effective in balancing safety and opportunity.

Debate across the US has intensified as lawmakers confront rapid advances in AI tools, with several states drafting their own frameworks. Cox suggested a cooperative model, where states lead, and federal agencies play a supporting role without overriding regional safeguards.

Analysts say the governor’s comments highlight a growing split between national uniformity and local autonomy in technology governance. Supporters argue that adaptable state systems foster trust, while critics warn that a patchwork approach could complicate compliance for developers.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Vietnam tops region in AI adoption and trust

Vietnam has emerged as Southeast Asia’s leader in AI readiness, with daily usage, upskilling rates and data-sharing willingness topping regional rankings. Survey data show 81 percent of users engage with AI tools each day, supported by widespread training and high trust levels.

Commercial activity reflects the shift, with AI-enhanced apps recording a 78 percent rise in revenue over the past year. Investors contributed 123 million dollars to local AI ventures, and most expect funding to grow further across software, services and deep-tech fields.

Vietnam’s digital economy is forecast to reach 39 billion dollars in 2025, fuelled by rapid expansion across e-commerce, online media, travel and digital finance. E-commerce continues to dominate, while gaming and online payments record notable acceleration across broader markets.

Vietnamese government support for cashless payments and favourable travel measures further strengthens digital adoption. Analysts say that Vietnam’s combination of strong user trust, fast-growing platforms and rising investment positions the country as a strong regional technological powerhouse.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Brain’s reusable thinking blocks give humans a flexibility advantage over AI

Researchers have uncovered why the human brain remains far more adaptable than AI. A new Princeton study finds that the brain repurposes shared cognitive components to manage varied tasks, enabling quick adaptation to new challenges without relearning from scratch.

Experiments with rhesus macaques showed that the prefrontal cortex uses shared ‘cognitive blocks’ that combine and recombine based on the task, such as judging colour or shape. The monkeys completed related categorisation tasks, allowing scientists to observe how neural patterns were reused across activities.

The findings suggest that humans excel at flexible learning because the brain builds new behaviours from existing mental components. By activating only the necessary blocks and quieting others, the prefrontal cortex avoids overload and keeps learning efficient.

Researchers say the insight could help artificial intelligence move beyond its tendency to forget past skills when learning new ones. It may also support clinical advances for conditions where cognitive flexibility is impaired, including schizophrenia and certain brain injuries.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!