Interdisciplinary approaches Archives | Page 143 of 186

Switzerland’s unique AI path: Blending innovation, governance, and local empowerment

In his recent blog post ‘Advancing Swiss AI Trinity: Zurich’s entrepreneurship, Geneva’s governance, and Communal subsidiarity,’ Jovan Kurbalija proposes a distinctive roadmap for Switzerland to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI. Rather than mimicking the AI power plays of the United States or China, Kurbalija argues that Switzerland can lead by integrating three national strengths: Zurich’s thriving innovation ecosystem, Geneva’s global leadership in governance, and the country’s foundational principle of subsidiarity rooted in local decision-making.

Zurich, already a global tech hub, is positioned to drive cutting-edge development through its academic excellence and robust entrepreneurial culture. Institutions like ETH Zurich and the presence of major tech firms provide a fertile ground for collaborations that turn research into practical solutions.

With AI tools becoming increasingly accessible, Kurbalija emphasises that success now depends on how societies harness the interplay of human and machine intelligence—a field where Switzerland’s education and apprenticeship systems give it a competitive edge. Meanwhile, Geneva is called upon to spearhead balanced international governance and standard-setting for AI.

Kurbalija stresses that AI policy must go beyond abstract discussions and address real-world issues—health, education, the environment—by embedding AI tools in global institutions and negotiations. He notes that Geneva’s experience in multilateral diplomacy and technical standardisation offers a strong foundation for shaping ethical, inclusive AI frameworks.

The third pillar—subsidiarity—empowers Swiss cantons and communities to develop AI that reflects local values and needs. By supporting grassroots innovation through mini-grants, reimagining libraries as AI learning hubs, and embedding AI literacy from primary school to professional training, Switzerland can build an AI model that is democratic and inclusive.

Why does it matter?

Kurbalija’s call to action is clear: with its tools, talent, and traditions aligned, Switzerland must act now to chart a future where AI serves society, not the other way around.

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Nvidia’s Huang: ‘The new programming language is human’

Speaking at London Tech Week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called AI ‘the great equaliser,’ explaining how AI has transformed who can access and control computing power.

In the past, computing was limited to a select few with technical skills in languages like C++ or Python. ‘We had to learn programming languages. We had to architect it. We had to design these computers that are very complicated,’ Huang said.

That’s no longer necessary, he explained. ‘Now, all of a sudden, there’s a new programming language. This new programming language is called ‘human’,’ Huang said, highlighting how AI now understands natural language commands. ‘Most people don’t know C++, very few people know Python, and everybody, as you know, knows human.’

He illustrated his point with an example: asking an AI to write a poem in the style of Shakespeare. The AI delivers, he said—and if you ask it to improve, it will reflect and try again, just like a human collaborator.

For Huang, this shift is not just technical but transformational. It makes the power of advanced computing accessible to billions, not just a trained few.

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UK government backs AI to help teachers and reduce admin

The UK government has unveiled new guidance for schools that promotes the use of AI to reduce teacher workloads and increase face-to-face time with pupils.

The Department for Education (DfE) says AI could take over time-consuming administrative tasks such as lesson planning, report writing, and email drafting—allowing educators to focus more on classroom teaching.

The guidance, aimed at schools and colleges in the UK, highlights how AI can assist with formative assessments like quizzes and low-stakes feedback, while stressing that teachers must verify outputs for accuracy and data safety.

It also recommends using only school-approved tools and limits AI use to tasks that support rather than replace teaching expertise.

Education unions welcomed the move but said investment is needed to make it work. Leaders from the NAHT and ASCL praised AI’s potential to ease pressure on staff and help address recruitment issues, but warned that schools require proper infrastructure and training.

The government has pledged £1 million to support AI tool development for marking and feedback.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the plan will free teachers to deliver more personalised support, adding: ‘We’re putting cutting-edge AI tools into the hands of our brilliant teachers to enhance how our children learn and develop.’

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Quantum light beats AI at its own game in surprise photonic experiment

A small-scale quantum device developed by researchers at the University of Vienna has outperformed advanced classical machine learning algorithms—including some used in today’s leading AI systems—using just two photons and a glass chip.

The experiment suggests that useful quantum advantage could arrive far sooner than previously thought, not in massive future machines but in today’s modest photonic setups.

The team’s six-mode processor doesn’t rely on raw speed to beat traditional systems. Instead, it harnesses a uniquely quantum property: the way identical particles interfere. This interference naturally computes mathematical structures known as permanents, which are computationally expensive for classical systems.

By embedding these quantum calculations into a pattern-recognition task, the researchers consistently achieved higher classification accuracy across multiple datasets.

Crucially, the device operates with extreme energy efficiency, offering a promising route to sustainable AI. Co-author Iris Agresti highlighted the growing energy costs of modern machine learning and pointed to photonic quantum systems as a potential solution.

These early results could pave the way for new applications in areas where training data is limited and classical methods fall short—redefining the future of AI and quantum computing alike.

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AI in higher education: A mixed blessing for students and institutions

AI rapidly reshapes university life, offering students new tools to boost creativity, structure assignments, and develop ideas more efficiently. At institutions like Oxford Brookes University, students like 22-year-old Sunjaya Phillips have found that AI enhances confidence and productivity when used responsibly, with faculty guidance.

She describes AI as a ‘study buddy’ that transformed her academic experience, especially during creative blocks, where AI-generated prompts saved valuable time. However, the rise of AI in academia also raises important concerns.

A global student survey revealed that while many embrace AI in their studies, a majority fear its long-term implications on employment. Some admit to misusing the technology for dishonest purposes, highlighting the ethical challenges it presents.

Experts like Dr Charlie Simpson from Oxford Brookes caution that relying too heavily on AI to ‘do the thinking’ undermines educational goals and may devalue the learning process.

Despite these concerns, many educators and institutions remain optimistic about AI’s potential—if used wisely. Professor Keiichi Nakata from Henley Business School stresses that AI is not a replacement but a powerful aid, likening its expected workplace relevance to today’s basic IT skills.

He and others argue that responsible AI use could elevate the capabilities of future graduates and reshape degree expectations accordingly. While some students worry about job displacement, others, like Phillips, view AI as a support system rather than a threat.

The consensus among academics is clear: success in the age of AI will depend not on avoiding the technology, but on mastering it with discernment, ethics, and adaptability.

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UK NCSC releases principles for strengthening organisational cybersecurity culture

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published a framework of six principles aimed at supporting organisations in developing a strong internal cybersecurity culture. The principles are based on research conducted with government and industry stakeholders and are intended to guide organisations in embedding cyber-resilient behaviours among their personnel.

The principles are outlined as follows:

Frame cyber security as an enabler that supports the organisation’s core objectives.
Encourage openness by building trust, safety, and processes that support transparency around security issues.
Adapt to change to address new threats and take advantage of opportunities to improve resilience.
Acknowledge the role of social norms in shaping secure behaviours within the organisation.
Recognise leadership responsibility in influencing cyber security culture.
Maintain accessible and clear security rules and guidance to support user understanding and compliance.

Each principle is accompanied by practical examples illustrating effective and ineffective application.

Ice, Nature, Outdoors, Iceberg, Dynamite, Weapon — UK NCSC releases principles for strengthening organisational cybersecurity culture 8

The NCSC notes that building a cybersecurity culture requires ongoing and coordinated efforts across multiple organisational roles, including cybersecurity professionals, cultural specialists, and leadership. The centre highlights that the ability of staff to support security objectives is influenced by the overall organisational environment and approach to cyber risks.

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Bing rolls out Sora powered video maker

Microsoft has launched a new feature in its Bing app called Bing Video Creator, allowing users to generate videos using text prompts. That tool leverages OpenAI’s advanced Sora model, marking the first time Sora is available for free to the public, as it was previously restricted to paying OpenAI customers.

However, the feature is currently limited to the Bing mobile app and is not yet accessible on desktop. To use the service, users must be signed into a Microsoft account.

Initially, they can create up to 10 videos for free; after that, each video costs 100 Microsoft Rewards points, which can be earned by searching with Bing or shopping in the Microsoft Store. For instance, users get five points for each Bing search on a PC, up to 150 points daily.

Each video is limited to five seconds and must be generated in vertical 9:16 format, a layout ideal for social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Users can generate up to three clips at a time.

Although labelled ‘fast’ mode, the generation process may still take hours. Microsoft says support for horizontal formats is on the way.

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AI to take over all Meta ads under new plan

Meta is preparing to transform digital advertising on its platforms, with reports indicating that by 2026, all adverts on Facebook and Instagram could be fully created and targeted using AI.

The company’s vision would see AI tools take over the entire process—from ad generation to audience selection—requiring advertisers to provide only a product image and budget.

Since introducing generative AI features for advertisers in May 2023, Meta has continued to expand its automation capabilities. Currently, AI plays a major role in targeting ads across Meta’s platforms.

Under the new system, Meta’s AI will go several steps further by generating text, visuals, and video, as well as optimising ad delivery for the most suitable audience.

The initiative is aligned with CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s broader vision of AI-led automation, especially within advertising—Meta’s financial backbone, which accounted for over 97% of the company’s revenue last year.

Speaking at Meta’s annual shareholder meeting, Zuckerberg outlined a future where businesses simply define their marketing goal and budget, link a payment method, and allow Meta’s AI to handle the rest.

The company is also developing real-time personalisation tools. These will allow the same ad to appear differently depending on a user’s location or context—for example, showing a car in snowy terrain to one user, while another might see it in an urban setting.

Meta is also exploring integration with third-party AI models such as DALL·E and Midjourney to further enhance creative capabilities.

This move follows similar developments by rivals like Google, which recently launched its Veo video generation model. With AI continuing to reshape the advertising landscape, Meta is betting on full automation as the next frontier in digital marketing.

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Diplo joins Brazil’s Internet Forum and celebrates CGI.br’s 30 years

Diplo actively participated in Brazil’s Internet Forum (FIB), held from May 26 to 30 and hosted by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br). The event brought together key stakeholders from across sectors to discuss pressing issues in digital governance.

Representing Diplo, Marilia Maciel contributed to critical discussions on state roles and multistakeholder collaboration in managing cloud infrastructures and defending digital sovereignty. She also offered insights during the main session on setting principles for regulating digital platforms.

Maciel’s contributions were recognised with the ‘Destaques em Governança da Internet no Brasil’ award, one of the most respected acknowledgments of excellence in internet governance in the country. The award highlights individuals and organisations that have made significant advances in promoting inclusive and effective digital policy in Brazil.

The event also marked a major milestone for CGI.br—its 30th anniversary. Diplo joined in celebrating the committee’s three decades of leadership in internet governance. CGI.br’s pioneering approach to multistakeholder governance has served not only as a national model but as a global inspiration for collaborative digital policy-making.

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Courts consider limits on AI evidence

A newly proposed rule by the Federal Judicial Conference could reshape how AI-generated evidence is treated in court. Dubbed Rule 707, it would allow such machine-generated evidence to be admitted only if it meets the same reliability standards required of expert testimony under Rule 702.

However, it would not apply to outputs from simple scientific instruments or widely used commercial software. The rule aims to address concerns about the reliability and transparency of AI-driven analysis, especially when used without a supporting expert witness.

Critics argue that the limitation to non-expert presentation renders the rule overly narrow, as the underlying risks of bias and interpretability persist regardless of whether an expert is involved. They suggest that all machine-generated evidence in US courts should be subject to robust scrutiny.

The Advisory Committee is also considering the scope of terminology such as ‘machine learning’ to prevent Rule 707 from encompassing more than intended. Meanwhile, a separate proposed rule regarding deepfakes has been shelved because courts already have tools to address the forgery.

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