Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has issued an urgent advisory on security weaknesses in OpenAI’s ChatGPT models. The agency warned that flaws affecting GPT-4o and GPT-5 could expose users to data leakage through indirect prompt injection.
According to NITDA’s Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team, seven critical flaws were identified that allow hidden instructions to be embedded in web content. Malicious prompts can be triggered during routine browsing, search or summarisation without user interaction.
The advisory warned that attackers can bypass safety filters, exploit rendering bugs and manipulate conversation context. Some techniques allow injected instructions to persist across future interactions by interfering with the models’ memory functions.
While OpenAI has addressed parts of the issue, NITDA said large language models still struggle to reliably distinguish malicious data from legitimate input. Risks include unintended actions, information leakage and long-term behavioural influence.
NITDA urged users and organisations in Nigeria to apply updates promptly and limit browsing or memory features when not required. The agency said that exposing AI systems to external tools increases their attack surface and demands stronger safeguards.
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SoftBank chief Masayoshi Son told South Korean President Lee Jae Myung that advanced AI could surpass humans by an extreme margin. He suggested future systems may be 10,000 times more capable than people. The remarks came during a meeting in Seoul focused on national AI ambitions.
Son compared the potential intelligence gap to the difference between humans and goldfish. He said AI might relate to humans as humans relate to pets. Lee acknowledged the vision but admitted feeling uneasy about the scale of the described change.
Son argued that superintelligent systems would not threaten humans physically, noting they lack biological needs. He framed coexistence as the likely outcome. His comments followed renewed political interest in positioning South Korea as an AI leader.
The debate turned to cultural capability when Lee asked whether AI might win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Son said such an achievement was plausible. He pointed to fast-moving advances that continue to challenge expectations about machine creativity.
Researchers say artificial superintelligence remains theoretical, but early steps toward AGI may emerge within a decade. Many expect systems to outperform humans across a wide set of tasks. Policy discussions in South Korea reflect growing urgency around AI governance.
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Researchers in Australia are examining how sweat could support new forms of health monitoring. A recent study highlights its diagnostic potential when combined with machine learning, noting the appeal of simple, non-invasive collection for people already using wearables.
Early hydration patches show how sweat data is entering the sports and fitness space. Advances in microfluidics and flexible electronics have enabled thin, real-time sweat-sampling patches. UTS researchers say AI can extract useful biomarkers and deliver personalised insights for everyday tracking.
Experts say sweat remains underused despite carrying biological signals relevant to preventive care. UTS scientists point to gains from reading multiple biomarkers and sending data wirelessly for assessment. Improvements in pattern recognition now support more accurate interpretation.
Development work in Sydney, Australia, includes microfluidic devices that detect trace levels of glucose and cortisol. Most systems remain prototypes, yet commercial interest is increasing as companies explore non-invasive alternatives to blood-based testing.
The research team expects broader adoption as sensor accuracy improves. They anticipate wearables that monitor stress markers and help identify chronic conditions earlier, framing skin-based sensing combined with AI as a route to wider access to continuous health insights.
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AI adoption in manufacturing is accelerating as generative tools are reshaping frontline roles. Many firms see connected worker platforms as a response to labour shortages and a draw for younger recruits. GenAI is emerging as a support layer that boosts productivity without displacing staff.
Operators face mixed training needs, language gaps and stricter safety demands. GenAI supports tailored instructions and smoother knowledge transfer, cutting documentation effort.
Retrieval is becoming more critical as factories digitise. Frontline teams need fast access to clear guidance across text, image and video formats. AI-enabled search interprets intent, reducing delays caused by navigating large content libraries.
Video-based guidance is rising in prominence as short-form media becomes a preferred way for younger workers to learn. AI can convert lengthy procedures into concise visual steps, while multilingual transcription expands accessibility for diverse teams across global operations.
The growing use of AI tools marks a shift toward more adaptive factory operations. Manufacturers view connected worker platforms as vital to competitiveness, with AI integration offering gains in engagement, safety and performance.
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Gary Marcus argued at Axios’ AI+ Summit that large language models (LLMs) offer utility but fall short of the transformative claims made by their developers. He framed their fundamental role as groundwork for future artificial general intelligence. He suggested that meaningful capability shifts lie beyond today’s systems.
Marcus said alignment challenges stem from LLMs lacking robust world models and reliable constraints. He noted that models still hallucinate despite explicit instructions to avoid errors. He described current systems as an early rehearsal rather than a route to AGI.
Concerns raised included bias, misinformation, environmental impact and implications for education. Marcus also warned about the decline of online information quality as automated content spreads. He believes structural flaws make these issues persistent.
Industry momentum remains strong despite unresolved risks. Developers continue to push forward without clear explanations for model behaviour. Investment flows remain focused on the promise of AGI, despite timelines consistently shifting.
Strategic competition adds pressure, with the United States seeking to maintain an edge over China in advanced AI. Political signals reinforce the drive toward rapid development. Marcus argued that stronger frameworks are needed before systems scale further.
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OpenAI has launched OpenAI for Australia, a nationwide initiative to unlock the economic and societal benefits of AI. The program aims to support sovereign AI infrastructure, upskill Australians, and accelerate the country’s local AI ecosystem.
CEO Sam Altman highlighted Australia’s deep technical talent and strong institutions as key factors in becoming a global leader in AI.
A significant partnership with NEXTDC will see the development of a next-generation hyperscale AI campus and large GPU supercluster at Sydney’s Eastern Creek S7 site.
The project is expected to create thousands of jobs, boost local supplier opportunities, strengthen STEM and AI skills, and provide sovereign compute capacity for critical workloads.
OpenAI will also upskill more than 1.2 million Australians in collaboration with CommBank, Coles and Wesfarmers. OpenAI Academy will provide tailored modules to give workers and small business owners practical AI skills for confident daily use.
The nationwide rollout of courses is scheduled to begin in 2026.
OpenAI is launching its first Australian start-up program with local venture capital firms Blackbird, Square Peg, and AirTree to support home-grown innovation. Start-ups will receive API credits, mentorship, workshops, and access to Founder Day to accelerate product development and scale AI solutions locally.
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The US tech giant, Google, has announced a $2.1 million Google.org commitment to support Nigeria’s AI-powered future, aiming to strengthen local talent and improve digital safety nationwide.
An initiative that supports Nigeria’s National AI Strategy and its ambition to create one million digital jobs, recognising the economic potential of AI, which could add $15 billion to the country’s economy by 2030.
The investment focuses on developing advanced AI skills among students and developers instead of limiting progress to short-term training schemes.
Their work will introduce advanced AI curricula into universities and provide developers with structured, practical routes from training to building real-world products.
The commitment also expands digital safety initiatives so communities can participate securely in the digital economy.
Junior Achievement Africa will scale Google’s ‘Be Internet Awesome’ curriculum to help families understand safe online behaviour, while the CyberSafe Foundation will deliver cybersecurity training and technical assistance to public institutions, strengthening national digital resilience.
Google aims to create more opportunities similar to those of Nigerian learners who used digital skills to secure full-time careers instead of remaining excluded from the digital economy.
By combining advanced AI training with improved digital safety, the company intends to support inclusive growth and build long-term capacity across Nigeria.
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Video games have long since outgrown their roots as niche entertainment. What used to be arcades and casual play is now a global cultural phenomenon.
A recent systematic review of research argues that video games play a powerful role in cultural transmission. They allow players worldwide, regardless of language or origin, to absorb cultural, social, and historical references embedded in game narratives.
Importantly, games are not passive media. Their interactivity gives them unique persuasive power. As one academic work on ‘gaming in diplomacy’ puts it, video games stand out among cultural media because they allow for procedural rhetoric, meaning that players learn values, norms, and worldviews not just by watching or hearing, but by actively engaging with them.
As such, gaming has the capacity to transcend borders, languages and traditional media’s constraints. For many young players around the world, including those in developing regions, gaming has become a shared language, a means to connecting across cultures, geographies, and generations.
Esports as soft power and public diplomacy
Nation branding, cultural export and global influence
Several countries have recognised the diplomatic potential of esports and gaming. Waseda University researchers emphasise that esports can be systematically used to project soft power, engaging foreign publics, shaping favourable perceptions, and building cultural influence, rather than being mere entertainment or economic ventures.
A 2025 study shows that the use of ‘game-based cultural diplomacy’ is increasingly common. Countries such as Japan, Poland, and China are utilising video games and associated media to promote their national identity, cultural narratives, and values.
An article about the games Honor of Kings and Black Myth: Wukong describes how the state-backed Chinese gaming industry incorporates traditional Chinese cultural elements (myth, history, aesthetics) into globally consumed games, thereby reaching millions internationally and strengthening China’s soft-power footprint.
For governments seeking to diversify their diplomatic tools beyond traditional media (film, music, diplomatic campaigns), esports offers persistent, globally accessible, and youth-oriented engagement, particularly as global demographics shift toward younger, digital-native generations.
Esports diplomacy in practice: People-to-people exchange
Cross-cultural understanding, community, identity
In bilateral diplomacy, esports has already been proposed as a vehicle for ‘people-to-people exchange.’ For example, a commentary on US–South Korea relations argues that annual esports competitions between the two countries’ top players could serve as a modern, interactive form of public diplomacy, fostering mutual cultural exchange beyond the formalities of traditional diplomacy.
On the grassroots level, esports communities, being global, multilingual and cross-cultural, foster friendships, shared experiences, and identities that transcend geography. That moment democratises participation, because you don’t need diplomatic credentials or state backing. All you need is access and engagement.
Some analyses emphasise how digital competition and community-building in esports ‘bridge cultural differences, foster international collaboration and cultural diversity through shared language and competition.’
From a theoretical perspective, applying frameworks from sports diplomacy to esports, supported by academic proposals, offers a path to sustainable and legitimate global engagement through gaming, if regulatory, equality and governance challenges are addressed.
Tensions & challenges: Not just a soft-power fairy tale
Risk of ‘techno-nationalism’ and propaganda
The use of video games in diplomacy is not purely benign. Some scholars warn of ‘digital nationalism’ or ‘techno-nationalism,’ where games become tools for propagating state narratives, shaping collective memory, and exporting political or ideological agendas.
The embedding of cultural or historical motifs in games (mythology, national heritage, symbols) can blur the line between cultural exchange and political messaging. While this can foster appreciation for a culture, it may also serve more strategic geopolitical or soft-power aims.
From a governance perspective, the rapid growth of esports raises legitimate concerns about inequality (access, digital divide), regulation, legitimacy of representation (who speaks for ‘a nation’), and possible exploitation of youth. Some academic literature argues that without proper regulation and institutionalisation, the ‘esports diplomacy gold rush’ risks being unsustainable.
Why this matters and what it means for Africa and the Global South
For regions such as Africa, gaming and esports represent not only recreation but potential platforms for youth empowerment, cultural expression, and international engagement. Even where traditional media or sports infrastructure may be limited, digital games can provide global reach and visibility. That aligns with the idea of ‘future pathways’ for youth, which includes creativity, community-building and cross-cultural exchange.
Because games can transcend language and geography, they offer a unique medium for diaspora communities, marginalised youth, and underrepresented cultures to project identity, share stories, and engage with global audiences. In that sense, gaming democratises cultural participation and soft-power capabilities.
On a geopolitical level, as game-based diplomacy becomes more recognised, Global South countries may leverage it to assert soft power, attract investment, and promote tourism or cultural heritage, provided they build local capacity (developers, esports infrastructure, regulation) and ensure inclusive access.
Gaming & esports as emerging diplomatic infrastructure
The trend suggests that video games and esports are steadily being institutionalised as instruments of digital diplomacy, soft power, and cultural diplomacy, not only by private companies, but increasingly by states and policymakers. Academic bibliometric analysis shows a growing number of studies (2015–2024) dedicated to ‘game-based cultural diplomacy.’
As esports ecosystems grow, with tournaments, global fans and the cultural export, we may see a shift from occasional ‘cultural-diplomacy events’ to sustained, long-term strategies employing gaming to shape international perceptions, build transnational communities, and influence foreign publics.
However, for this potential to be realised responsibly, key challenges must be addressed. Those challenges include inequality of access (digital divide), transparency over cultural or political messaging, fair regulation, and safeguarding inclusivity.
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Quantum computing is advancing as governments and industry pursue new frontiers beyond AI. The UK benefits from strong research traditions and skilled talent. Policymakers see early planning as vital for long-term competitiveness.
Companies across finance, energy and logistics are testing quantum methods for optimisation and modelling. Early pilots suggest that quantum techniques may offer advantages where classical approaches slow down or fail to scale. Interest in practical applications is rising across Europe.
The UK benefits from strong university spinouts and deep industrial partnerships. Joint programmes are accelerating work on molecular modelling and drug discovery. Many researchers argue that early experimentation helps build a more resilient quantum workforce.
New processors promise higher connectivity and lower error rates as the field moves closer to quantum advantage. Research teams are refining designs for future error-corrected systems. Hardware roadmaps indicate steady progress towards more reliable architectures.
Policy support will shape how quickly the UK can translate research into real-world capability. Long-term investments, open scientific collaboration and predictable regulation will be critical. Momentum suggests a decisive period for the country’s quantum ambitions.
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EU regulators are preparing to enforce the Cyber Resilience Act, setting core security requirements for digital products in the European market. The law spans software, hardware, and firmware, establishing shared expectations for secure development and maintenance.
Scope captures apps, embedded systems, and cloud-linked features. Risk classes run from default to critical, directing firms to self-assess or undergo third-party checks. Any product sold beyond December 2027 must align with the regulation.
Obligations apply to manufacturers, importers, distributors, and developers. Duties include secure-by-design practices, documented risk analysis, disclosure procedures, and long-term support. Firms must notify ENISA within 24 hours of active exploitation and provide follow-up reports on a strict timeline.
Compliance requires technical files covering threat assessments, update plans, and software bills of materials. High-risk categories demand third-party evaluation, while lower-risk segments may rely on internal checks. Existing certifications help, but cannot replace CRA-specific conformity work.
Non-compliance risks fines, market restrictions, and reputational damage. Organisations preparing early are urged to classify products, run gap assessments, build structured roadmaps, and align development cycles with CRA guidance. EU authorities plan to provide templates and support as firms transition.
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