Prominent personalities

UAE gains UN praise for Arab Digital Economy strategy

A senior UN official has praised the Arab Digital Economy vision backed by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, calling it a leading regional model for accelerating digital development.

The initiative, adopted by the Arab League, was described as a significant milestone for collective progress, rather than fragmented national efforts.

Speaking at the Knowledge Summit in Dubai, Dr Abdallah Al Dardari noted that the UAE has secured a central position in global and regional technological advancements through forward-looking policies and a strong commitment to innovation.

He argued that the country’s digital achievements provide an ideal foundation for Arab nations aiming to strengthen their own digital ecosystems.

Moreover, he highlighted the UAE’s combination of advanced infrastructure, modern legislation and innovation-friendly conditions, adding that its experience offers valuable guidance for states working to build integrated digital economies that can respond to rapid global change.

Dr Al Dardari concluded that the UAE’s role in driving regional and international development offers a model for a future economy shaped by knowledge and technology, rather than traditional growth approaches.

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New NVIDIA model drives breakthroughs in conservation biology

Researchers have introduced a biology foundation model that can recognise over a million species and understand relationships across the animal and plant kingdoms.

BioCLIP 2 was trained on one of the most extensive biological datasets ever compiled, allowing it to identify traits, cluster organisms and reveal patterns that support conservation efforts.

A model that relies on NVIDIA accelerated computing instead of traditional methods and demonstrates what large-scale biological learning can achieve.

Training drew on more than two hundred million images that cover hundreds of thousands of taxonomic classes. The AI model learned how species fit within wider biological hierarchies and how traits differ across age, gender and related groups without explicit guidance.

It even separated diseased leaves from healthy samples, offering a route to improved monitoring of ecosystems and agricultural resilience.

Scientists now plan to expand the project by utilising wildlife digital twins that simulate ecological systems in controlled environments.

Researchers will be able to study species interactions and test scenarios instead of disturbing natural habitats. The approach opens possibilities for richer ecological research and could offer the public immersive ways to view biodiversity from the perspective of different animals.

BioCLIP 2 is available as open-source software and has already attracted strong global interest. Its capabilities indicate a shift toward more advanced biological modelling powered by accelerated computing, providing conservationists and educators with new tools to address long-standing knowledge gaps.

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Armenia promotes AI partnership during ambassador’s meeting with Apple in Cupertino

Armenia’s ambassador, Narek Mkrtchyan, has met senior Apple representatives in Cupertino to discuss expanding the company’s activities in the country. The visit included talks with Jason Lundgaard, Apple’s senior director for international cooperation at corporate government affairs.

The ambassador outlined the Armenia–US memorandum on AI and semiconductor cooperation signed on 8 August and highlighted Armenia’s technology ecosystem and investment potential. Both sides explored areas for collaboration and the conditions under which Apple could expand its presence.

Apple plans to send a delegation to Armenia in the coming period to assess opportunities for growth and engagement with local institutions. The discussions signalled early steps toward a more structured partnership.

During the meeting, the ambassador thanked Mr Lundgaard for supporting the launch of Apple’s first educational programme at the Armenian College of Creative Technologies. The initiative forms part of a wider effort to strengthen skills development in Armenia’s digital sector.

Both sides reiterated their commitment to deepen cooperation and expand the educational partnership as Armenia positions itself as a regional hub for advanced technologies.

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Chen Deli warns that AGI progress could bring dangerous societal consequences

DeepSeek made a rare public appearance at the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, where senior researcher Chen Deli restated the firm’s ambition to develop AGI. He joined other companies known as China’s ‘six little dragons’ of AI and acknowledged the potential risks of advanced systems.

Chen represented founder Liang Wenfeng, who has remained out of the public eye since meeting President Xi Jinping earlier this year. He said AI’s current limits create a short ‘honeymoon phase’ before automation reshapes employment and social stability.

The start-up, founded in 2023 as a High-Flyer spin-out, continues to focus on long-term AGI research rather than short-lived commercial trends. Chen said it was reasonable to consider the dangers of highly capable systems while still pursuing them.

His comments echoed an open letter calling for a pause on superintelligence work until strong public support and scientific consensus on safety emerge. Hundreds of experts and public figures backed the appeal for tighter oversight.

Chen argued that market incentives make slowing progress unrealistic and said widespread job replacement may ultimately define the AI revolution. Other firms from China, including Zhipu AI and Alibaba, outlined plans for more powerful infrastructure to meet rising compute demand.

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Tech groups welcome EU reforms as privacy advocates warn of retreat

The EU has unveiled plans to scale back certain aspects of its AI and data privacy rules to revive innovation and alleviate regulatory pressure on businesses. The Digital Omnibus package delays stricter oversight for high-risk AI until 2027 and permits the use of anonymised personal data for model training.

The reforms amend the AI Act and several digital laws, cutting cookie pop-ups and simplifying documentation requirements for smaller firms. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen says the aim is to boost competitiveness by removing layers of rigid regulation that have hindered start-ups and SMEs.

US tech lobby groups welcomed the overall direction. Still, they criticised the package for not going far enough, particularly on compute thresholds for systemic-risk AI and copyright provisions with cross-border effects. They argue the reforms only partially address industry concerns.

Privacy and digital rights advocates sharply opposed the changes, warning they represent a significant retreat from Europe’s rights-centric regulatory model. Groups including NOYB accused Brussels of undermining hard-won protections in favour of Big Tech interests.

Legal scholars say the proposals could shift Europe closer to a more permissive, industry-driven approach to AI and data use. They warn that the reforms may dilute the EU’s global reputation as a standard-setter for digital rights, just as the world seeks alternatives to US-style regulation.

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US administration pushes back on proposal to restrict Nvidia sales to China

The White House is urging Congress to reject a bipartisan proposal that would restrict Nvidia from selling advanced AI chips to China and other countries subject to an embargo. The GAIN AI Act would require chipmakers to prioritise US buyers before exporting high-performance hardware.

Lawmakers are debating whether to attach the provision to the annual defence spending bill, a move that could accelerate approval. The White House intervention represents a significant win for Nvidia, which has lobbied to maintain export flexibility amid shifting trade policies.

China was previously a significant market for Nvidia, but the firm has pared back expectations due to rising geopolitical risks. Beijing has also increased scrutiny of US-made chips as it pushes for self-reliance in AI and semiconductor technology.

The policy discussions come shortly after Nvidia posted stronger-than-expected third-quarter earnings and issued an upbeat outlook. CEO Jensen Huang has pushed back against concerns of an AI-driven valuation bubble, arguing demand remains robust.

Nvidia’s shares rose 5 percent after hours following the earnings report, reflecting investor confidence as Washington continues to debate the future of AI chip export controls.

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Meta’s chief AI scientist Yann LeCun departs to launch world-model AI startup

Yann LeCun, one of the pioneers of deep learning and Meta’s chief AI scientist, is leaving the company to establish a new startup dedicated to world-model AI research.

The firm will continue its long-standing ambition to develop systems capable of understanding the physical world and planning complex actions.

The move comes during a turbulent period for Meta’s AI efforts, following internal reorganisations and disappointment surrounding the performance of its Llama 4 model.

Meta is investing heavily to regain momentum, including significant hires and new leadership brought in over recent months.

Despite his departure, Meta intends to partner with LeCun’s new venture, though his research direction has increasingly diverged from the company’s strategy. Differences over open-source approaches, leadership changes and cuts to research teams were significant factors in his decision to leave.

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AI in healthcare gains regulatory compass from UK experts

Professor Alastair Denniston has outlined the core principles for regulating AI in healthcare, describing AI as the ‘X-ray moment’ of our time.

Like previous innovations such as MRI scanners and antibiotics, AI has the potential to improve diagnosis, treatment and personalised care dramatically. Still, it also requires careful oversight to ensure patient safety.

The MHRA’s National Commission on the Regulation of AI in Healthcare is developing a framework based on three key principles. The framework must be safe, ensuring proportionate regulation that protects patients without stifling innovation.

It must be fast, reducing delays in bringing beneficial technologies to patients and supporting small innovators who cannot endure long regulatory timelines. Ultimately, it must be trusted, with transparent processes that foster confidence in AI technologies today and in the future.

Professor Denniston emphasises that AI is not a single technology but a rapidly evolving ecosystem. The regulatory system must keep pace with advances while allowing the NHS to harness AI safely and efficiently.

Just as with earlier medical breakthroughs, failure to innovate can carry risks equal to the dangers of new technologies themselves.

The National Commission will soon invite the public to contribute their views through a call for evidence.

Patients, healthcare professionals, and members of the public are encouraged to share what matters to them, helping to shape a framework that balances safety, speed, and trust while unlocking the full potential of AI in the NHS.

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UAE and China deepen ties with mBridge launch

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed has overseen a digital currency payment between the UAE and China. The transfer used the ‘mBridge’ central bank digital currency platform to settle funds directly. Officials say the move marks the formal launch of ‘mBridge’ for cross-border payments.

Ceremonies in Abu Dhabi also launched the first ‘Jaywan-UnionPay’ multi-scheme prepaid card. The product links Jaywan’s domestic network with UnionPay’s global acceptance in more than 180 countries.

Transactions inside the UAE are processed locally, while overseas spending routes through UnionPay’s international infrastructure. Officials say the projects highlight partnerships between the UAE and China and strengthen the Emirates’ role in digital finance.

Sheikh Mansour and Pan Gongsheng also signed a memorandum on future cross-border payment cooperation. Further expansion of the ‘mBridge‘ network and domestic Digital Dirham pilots is planned from 2026.

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Sundar Pichai warns users not to trust AI tools easily

Google CEO Sundar Pichai advises people not to unquestioningly trust AI tools, warning that current models remain prone to errors. He told the BBC that users should rely on a broader information ecosystem rather than treat AI as a single source of truth.

Pichai said generative systems can produce inaccuracies and stressed that people must learn what the tools are good at. The remarks follow criticism of Google’s own AI Overviews feature, which attracted attention for erratic and misleading responses during its rollout.

Experts say the risk grows when users depend on chatbots for health, science, or news. BBC research found major AI assistants misrepresented news stories in nearly half of the tests this year, underscoring concerns about factual reliability and the limits of current models.

Google is launching Gemini 3.0, which it claims offers stronger multimodal understanding and reasoning. The company says its new AI Mode in search marks a shift in how users interact with online information, as it seeks to defend market share against ChatGPT and other rivals.

Pichai says Google is increasing its investment in AI security and releasing tools to detect AI-generated images. He maintains that no single company should control such powerful technology and argues that the industry remains far from a scenario in which one firm dominates AI development.

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