Online education Archives | Page 13 of 58 | Digital Watch Observatory

India unveils MANAV Vision as new global pathway for ethical AI

Narendra Modi presented the new MANAV Vision during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, setting out a human-centred direction for AI.

He described the framework as rooted in moral guidance, transparent oversight, national control of data, inclusive access and lawful verification. He argued that the approach is intended to guide global AI governance for the benefit of humanity.

The Prime Minister of India warned that rapid technological change requires stronger safeguards and drew attention to the need to protect children. He also said societies are entering a period where people and intelligent systems co-create and evolve together instead of functioning in separate spheres.

He pointed to India’s confidence in its talent and policy clarity as evidence of a growing AI future.

Modi announced that three domestic companies introduced new AI models and applications during the summit, saying the launches reflect the energy and capability of India’s young innovators.

He invited technology leaders from around the world to collaborate by designing and developing in India instead of limiting innovation to established hubs elsewhere.

The summit brought together policymakers, academics, technologists and civil society representatives to encourage cooperation on the societal impact of artificial intelligence.

As the first global AI summit held in the Global South, the gathering aligned with India’s national commitment to welfare for all and the wider aspiration to advance AI for humanity.

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Government ramps up online safety for children in the UK

The UK government has announced new measures to protect children online, giving parents clearer guidance and support. PM Keir Starmer said no platform will get a free pass, with illegal AI chatbot content targeted immediately.

New powers, to be introduced through upcoming legislation, will allow swift action following a consultation on children’s digital well-being.

Proposed measures include enforcing social media age limits, restricting harmful features like infinite scrolling, and strengthening safeguards against sharing non-consensual intimate images.

Ministers are already consulting parents, children, and civil society groups. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology launched ‘You Won’t Know until You Ask’ to advise on safety settings, talking to children, and handling harmful content.

Charities such as NSPCC and the Molly Rose Foundation welcomed the announcement, emphasising swift action on age limits, addictive design, and AI content regulation. Children’s feedback will help shape the new rules, aiming to make the UK a global leader in online safety.

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WordPress.com integrates AI assistant into its editing workflow

Major updates to AI tooling are reshaping website creation as WordPress.com brings an integrated assistant directly into its editor.

The new system works within each site rather than relying on external chat windows, allowing users to adjust layouts, create content, and modify designs in real time. The tool is available to customers on Business and Commerce plans, although activation requires a manual opt-in.

The assistant appears across several core areas of the platform. Inside the editor, it can refine writing, modify styles, translate text and generate new sections with simple instructions.

In the Media Library, you can create new images or apply targeted edits through the platform’s in-house Nano Banana models, eliminating the need for separate subscriptions. Block notes provide an additional way to request suggestions, checks, or link-based context directly within each page.

The updates aim to make site building faster and more efficient by keeping all AI interactions within the existing workflow. Users who prefer a manual experience can ignore the feature entirely, since the assistant remains inactive unless deliberately enabled.

WordPress.com also notes that the system works best with block themes, although image tools are still available for classic themes.

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UAE launches first AI clinical platform

A Pakistani American surgeon has launched what is described as the UAE’s first AI clinical intelligence platform across the country’s public healthcare system. The rollout was announced in Dubai in partnership with Emirates Health Services.

Boston Health AI, founded by Dr Adil Haider, introduced the platform known as Amal at a major health expo in Dubai. The system conducts structured medical interviews in Arabic, English and Urdu before consultations, generating summaries for physicians.

The company said the technology aims to reduce documentation burdens and cognitive load on clinicians in the UAE. By organising patient histories and symptoms in advance, Amal is designed to support clinical decision making and improve workflow efficiency in Dubai and other emirates.

Before entering the UAE market, Boston Health AI deployed its platform in Pakistan across more than 50 healthcare facilities. The firm states that over 30,000 patient interactions were recorded in Pakistan, where a local team continues to develop and refine the AI system.

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AI visibility becomes crucial in college search

Growing numbers of students are using AI chatbots such as ChatGPT to guide their college search, reshaping how institutions attract applicants. Surveys show nearly half of high school students now use artificial intelligence tools during the admissions process.

Unlike traditional search engines, generative AI provides direct answers rather than website links, keeping users within conversational platforms. That shift has prompted universities to focus on ‘AI visibility’, ensuring their information is accurately surfaced by chatbots.

Institutions are refining website content through answer engine optimisation to improve how AI systems interpret their programmes and values. Clear, updated data is essential, as generative models can produce errors or outdated responses.

College leaders see both opportunity and risk in the trend. While AI can help families navigate complex choices, advisers warn that trust, accuracy and the human element remain critical in higher education decision-making.

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Institute of AI Education marks significant step for responsible AI in schools

The Institute of AI Education was officially launched at York St John University, bringing together education leaders, teachers, and researchers to explore practical and responsible approaches to AI in schools.

Discussions at the event focused on critical challenges, including fostering AI literacy, promoting fairness and inclusion, and empowering teachers and students to have agency over how AI tools are used.

The institute will serve as a collaborative hub, offering research-based guidance, professional development, and practical support to schools. A central message emphasised that AI should enhance the work of educators and learners, rather than replace them.

The launch featured interactive sessions with contributions from both education and technology leaders, as well as practitioners sharing real-world experiences of integrating AI into classrooms.

Strong attendance and active participation underscored the growing interest in AI across the education sector, with representatives from the Department for Education highlighting notable progress in early years and primary school settings.

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EU faces tension over potential ban on AI ‘pornification’

Lawmakers in the European Parliament remain divided over whether a direct ban on AI-driven ‘pornification’ should be added to the emerging digital omnibus.

Left-wing members push for an explicit prohibition, arguing that synthetic sexual imagery generated without consent has created a rapidly escalating form of online abuse. They say a strong legal measure is required instead of fragmented national responses.

Centre and liberal groups take a different position by promoting lighter requirements for industrial AI and seeking clarity on how any restrictions would interact with the AI Act.

They warn that an unrefined ban could spill over into general-purpose models and complicate enforcement across the European market. Their priority is a more predictable regulatory environment for companies developing high-volume AI systems.

Key figures across the political spectrum, including lawmakers such as Assita Kanko, Axel Voss and Brando Benifei, continue to debate how far the omnibus should go.

Some argue that safeguarding individuals from non-consensual sexual deepfakes must outweigh concerns about administrative burdens, while others insist that proportionality and technical feasibility need stronger assessment.

The lack of consensus leaves the proposal in a delicate phase as negotiations intensify. Lawmakers now face growing public scrutiny over how Europe will respond to the misuse of generative AI.

A clear stance from the Parliament is still pending, rather than an assured path toward agreement.

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Latam-GPT signals new AI ambition in Latin America

Chile has introduced Latam-GPT to strengthen Latin America’s presence in global AI.

The project, developed by the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence with support across South America, aims to correct long-standing biases by training systems on the region’s own data instead of material drawn mainly from the US or Europe.

President Gabriel Boric said the model will help maintain cultural identity and allow the region to take a more active role in technological development.

Latam-GPT is not designed as a conversational tool but rather as a vast dataset that serves as the foundation for future applications. More than eight terabytes of information have been collected, mainly in Spanish and Portuguese, with plans to add indigenous languages as the project expands.

The first version has been trained on Amazon Web Services. At the same time, future work will run on a new supercomputer at the University of Tarapacá, supported by millions of dollars in regional funding.

The model reflects growing interest among countries outside the major AI hubs of the US, China and Europe in developing their own technology instead of relying on foreign systems.

Researchers in Chile argue that global models often include Latin American data in tiny proportions, which can limit accurate representation. Despite questions about resources and scale, supporters believe Latam-GPT can deliver practical benefits tailored to local needs.

Early adoption is already underway, with the Chilean firm Digevo preparing customer service tools based on the model.

These systems will operate in regional languages and recognise local expressions, offering a more natural experience than products trained on data from other parts of the world.

Developers say the approach could reduce bias and promote more inclusive AI across the continent.

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Young voices seek critical approach to AI in classrooms

In Houston, more than 200 students from across the US gathered to discuss the future of AI in schools. The event, organised by the Close Up Foundation and Stanford University’s Deliberative Democracy Lab, brought together participants from 39 schools in 19 states.

Students debated whether AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini support or undermine learning. Many argued that schools are introducing powerful systems before pupils develop core critical thinking skills.

Participants did not call for a total ban or full embrace of AI. Instead, they urged schools to delay exposure for younger pupils and introduce clearer classroom policies that distinguish between support and substitution.

After returning to Honolulu, a student from ʻIolani School said Hawaiʻi schools should involve students directly in AI policy decisions. In Honolulu and beyond, he argued that structured dialogue can help schools balance innovation with cognitive development.

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AI pushes schools to rethink learning priorities

Students speaking at a major education technology conference said AI has revealed weaknesses in traditional learning. Heavy focus on memorisation is becoming less relevant in a world where digital tools provide instant answers.

AI helps learners summarise information and understand complex subjects more easily. Improved access to such tools has made studying more efficient and, in some cases, more engaging.

Teachers have responded by restricting technology use and returning to handwritten assignments. These measures aim to protect academic integrity but have created mixed reactions among students.

Participants supported guided AI use instead of banning it completely. Communication, collaboration and presentation skills were seen as more valuable and less vulnerable to AI shortcuts.

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