Human rights principles Archives | Page 83 of 162

AI model predicts prediabetes with high accuracy

Researchers have developed an AI model that enhances prediabetes prediction by integrating oxidative stress markers with traditional clinical indicators. The Pattern Neural Network model achieved 98.3% accuracy in Indian adults, outperforming other machine learning methods.

Total antioxidant status emerged as a key predictor, with lower antioxidant capacity observed in individuals with prediabetes. Waist circumference and BMI were also highly informative, alongside glucose markers such as HbA1c and OGTT.

The inclusion of oxidative stress measures provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying metabolic risk.

The study used clinical and biochemical data from 199 adults, with the PNN trained on 14 features, including demographic and biochemical variables. High accuracy across all sets indicates strong potential for quick, low-cost screening and personalised early interventions.

While the results are promising, the single-centre design and limited sample size indicate that external validation is needed. Future studies should test the model in larger, multi-site cohorts and integrate longitudinal data to enhance its real-world applicability and public health impact.

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

Australian families receive eSafety support as the social media age limit takes effect

Australia has introduced a minimum age requirement of 16 for social media accounts during the week, marking a significant shift in its online safety framework.

The eSafety Commissioner has begun monitoring compliance, offering a protective buffer for young people as they develop digital skills and resilience. Platforms now face stricter oversight, with potential penalties for systemic breaches, and age assurance requirements for both new and current users.

Authorities stress that the new age rule forms part of a broader effort aimed at promoting safer online environments, rather than relying on isolated interventions. Australia’s online safety programmes continue to combine regulation, education and industry engagement.

Families and educators are encouraged to utilise the resources on the eSafety website, which now features information hubs that explain the changes, how age assurance works, and what young people can expect during the transition.

Regional and rural communities in Australia are receiving targeted support, acknowledging that the change may affect them more sharply due to limited local services and higher reliance on online platforms.

Tailored guidance, conversation prompts, and step-by-step materials have been produced in partnership with national mental health organisations.

Young people are reminded that they retain access to group messaging tools, gaming services and video conferencing apps while they await eligibility for full social media accounts.

eSafety officials underline that the new limit introduces a delay rather than a ban. The aim is to reduce exposure to persuasive design and potential harm while encouraging stronger digital literacy, emotional resilience and critical thinking.

Ongoing webinars and on-demand sessions provide additional support as the enforcement phase progresses.

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

Vietnam passes first AI law to strict safeguards

Vietnam’s National Assembly has passed its first AI Law, advancing the regulation and development of AI nationwide. The legislation was approved with overwhelming support, alongside amendments to the Intellectual Property Law and a revised High Technology Law.

The AI Law will take effect on March 1, 2026.

The law establishes core principles, prohibits certain acts, and outlines a risk management framework for AI systems. The law combines safeguards for high-risk AI with incentives for innovation, including sandbox testing, a National AI Development Fund, and startup vouchers.

AI oversight will be centralised under the Government, led by the Ministry of Science and Technology, with assessments needed only for high-risk systems approved by the Prime Minister. The law allows real-time updates to this list to keep pace with technological advances.

Flexible provisions prevent obsolescence by avoiding fixed technology lists or rigid risk classifications. Lawmakers emphasised the balance between regulation and innovation, aiming to create a safe yet supportive environment for AI growth in Vietnam.

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

AI agents redefine knowledge work through cognitive collaboration

A new study by Perplexity and Harvard researchers sheds light on how people use AI agents at scale.

Millions of anonymised interactions were analysed to understand who relies on agent technology, how intensively it is used and what tasks users delegate. The findings challenge the notion of a digital concierge model and reveal a shift toward more profound cognitive collaboration, rather than merely outsourcing tasks.

More than half of all activity involves cognitive work, with strong emphasis on productivity, learning and research. Users depend on agents to scan documents, summarise complex material and prepare early analysis before making final decisions.

Students use AI agents to navigate coursework, while professionals rely on them to process information or filter financial data. The pattern suggests that users adopt agents to elevate their own capability instead of avoiding effort.

Usage also evolves. Early queries often involve low-pressure tasks, yet long-term behaviour moves sharply toward productivity and sustained research. Retention rates are highest among users working on structured workflows or tasks that require knowledge.

The trajectory mirrors the early personal computer, which gained value through spreadsheets and text processing rather than recreational use.

Six main occupations now drive most agent activity, with firm reliance among digital specialists as well as marketing, management and entrepreneurial roles. Context shapes behaviour, as finance users concentrate on efficiency while students favour research.

Designers and hospitality staff follow patterns linked to their professional needs. The study argues that knowledge work is increasingly shaped by the ability to ask better questions and that hybrid intelligence will define future productivity.

The pace of adaptation across the broader economy remains an open question.

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

China pushes global leadership on AI governance

Global discussions on artificial intelligence have multiplied, yet the world still lacks a coherent system to manage the technology’s risks. China is attempting to fill that gap by proposing a new World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation to coordinate regulation internationally.

Countries face mounting concerns over unsafe AI development, with the US relying on fragmented rules and voluntary commitments from tech firms. The EU has introduced binding obligations through its AI Act, although companies continue to push for weaker oversight.

China’s rapid rollout of safety requirements, including pre-deployment checks and watermarking of AI-generated content, is reshaping global standards as many firms overseas adopt Chinese open-weight models.

A coordinated international framework similar to the structure used for nuclear oversight could help governments verify compliance and stabilise the global AI landscape.

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

Online data exposure heightens threats to healthcare workers

Healthcare workers are facing escalating levels of workplace violence, with more than three-quarters reporting verbal or physical assaults, prompting hospitals to reassess how they protect staff from both on-site and external threats.

A new study examining people search sites suggests that online exposure of personal information may worsen these risks. Researchers analysed the digital footprint of hundreds of senior medical professionals, finding widespread availability of sensitive personal data.

The study shows that many doctors appear across multiple data broker platforms, with a significant share listed on five or more sites, making it difficult to track, manage, or remove personal information once it enters the public domain.

Exposure varies by age and geography. Younger doctors tend to have smaller digital footprints, while older professionals are more exposed due to accumulated public r ecords. State-level transparency laws also appear to influence how widely data is shared.

Researchers warn that detailed profiles, often available for a small fee, can enable harassment or stalking at a time when threats against healthcare leaders are rising. The findings renew calls for stronger privacy protections for medical staff.

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

Rising UK screen time sparks concerns for wellbeing

UK internet use has risen sharply, with adults spending over four and a half hours a day online in 2025, according to Ofcom’s latest Online Nation report.

Public sentiment has cooled, as fewer people now believe the internet is good for society, despite most still judging its benefits to outweigh the risks.

Children report complex online experiences, with many enjoying their digital time while also acknowledging adverse effects such as the so-called ‘brain rot’ linked to endless scrolling.

Significant portions of young people’s screen time occur late at night on major platforms, raising concerns about well-being.

New rules requiring age checks for UK pornography sites prompted a surge in VPN use as people attempted to bypass restrictions, although numbers have since declined.

Young users increasingly turn to online tools such as ASMR for relaxation, yet many also encounter toxic self-improvement content and body shaming.

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

Salesforce pushes unified data model for safer AI agents

Salesforce and Informatica are promoting a shared data framework designed to provide AI agents with a deeper understanding of business. Salesforce states that many projects fail due to context gaps, which leave agents unable to interpret enterprise data accurately.

Informatica adds master data management and a broad catalogue that defines core business entities across systems. Data lineage tools track how information moves through an organisation, helping agents judge reliability and freshness.

Data 360 merges these metadata layers and signals into a unified context interface without copying enterprise datasets. Salesforce claims that the approach provides Agentforce with a more comprehensive view of customers, processes, and policies, thereby supporting safer automation.

Wyndham and Yamaha representatives, quoted by Salesforce, say the combined stack helps reduce data inconsistency and accelerate decision-making. Both organisations report improved access to governed and harmonised records that support larger AI strategies.

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

US rollout brings AI face tagging to Amazon Ring

Amazon has begun rolling out a new facial recognition feature for its Ring doorbells, allowing devices to identify frequent visitors and send personalised alerts instead of generic motion notifications.

The feature, called Familiar Faces, enables users to create a catalogue of up to 50 individuals, such as family members, friends, neighbours or delivery drivers, by labelling faces directly within the Ring app.

Amazon says the rollout is now under way in the United States, where Ring owners can opt in to the feature, which is disabled by default and designed to reduce unwanted or repetitive alerts.

The company claims facial data is encrypted, not shared externally and not used to train AI models, while unnamed faces are automatically deleted after 30 days, giving users ongoing control over stored information.

Privacy advocates and lawmakers remain concerned, however, citing Ring’s past security failures and law enforcement partnerships as evidence that convenience-driven surveillance tools can introduce long-term risks to personal privacy.

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

National payments system anchors Ethiopia’s digital shift

Ethiopia has launched its National Digital Payment Strategy for 2026 to 2030 alongside a new instant payments platform, marking a significant milestone in the country’s broader push towards digital transformation.

The five-year strategy sets out plans to expand payment interoperability, strengthen public trust, and encourage innovation across the financial sector, with a focus on widening adoption and reducing barriers for underserved and rural communities.

At the centre of the initiative is a national instant payments system designed to support rapid, secure transactions, including person-to-person transfers, QR payments, bulk disbursements, and selected low-value cross-border transactions.

Government officials described the shift as central to building a more inclusive, cash-lite economy, highlighting progress in digital financial access and sustained investment in core digital and payments infrastructure.

The rollout builds on the earlier Digital Ethiopia 2025 agenda and feeds into the longer-term Digital Ethiopia 2030 vision, as authorities position the country to meet rising demand for secure digital financial services across Africa.

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