Prominent personalities

Australia’s green energy under pressure

The renewable energy sector in Australia encounters new challenges as major tech companies establish AI data centres across the country. Projects once planned to export solar power internationally are now influenced by domestic energy demands.

Sun Cable, supported by billionaires Mike Cannon-Brookes and Andrew Forrest, aimed to deliver Australian solar energy to Singapore via a 4,300-kilometre sea cable. The project symbolised a vision for Australia to become a leading exporter of renewable electricity.

The rapid expansion of AI facilities is shifting energy priorities towards domestic infrastructure. Tech companies’ demand for electricity is creating new competition with planned renewable export projects.

Energy policy decisions now carry broader implications for emissions, the national grid, and Australia’s role in the global clean energy market. Careful planning will be essential to balance domestic growth with long-term renewable ambitions.

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France proposes EU tools to map foreign tech dependence

France has unveiled a new push to reduce Europe’s dependence on US and Chinese technology suppliers, placing digital sovereignty back at the centre of the EU policy debates.

Speaking in Paris, France’s minister for AI and digital affairs, Anne Le Hénanff, presented initiatives to expose and address the structural reliance on non-EU technologies across public administrations and private companies.

Central to the strategy is the creation of a Digital Sovereignty Observatory, which will map foreign technology dependencies and assess organisational exposure to geopolitical and supply-chain risks.

The body, led by former Europe minister Clément Beaune, is intended to provide the evidence base needed for coordinated action rather than symbolic declarations of autonomy.

France is also advancing a Digital Resilience Index, expected to publish its first findings in early 2026. The index will measure reliance on foreign digital services and products, identifying vulnerabilities linked to cloud infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity and emerging technologies.

Industry data suggests Europe’s dependence on external tech providers costs the continent hundreds of billions of euros annually.

Paris is using the initiative to renew calls for a European preference in public-sector digital procurement and for a standard EU definition of European digital services.

Such proposals remain contentious among member states, yet France argues they are essential for restoring strategic control over critical digital infrastructure.

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IMF chief sounds alarm at Davos 2026 over AI and disruption to entry-level labour

AI has dominated discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva warned that labour markets are already undergoing rapid structural disruption.

According to Georgieva, demand for skills is shifting unevenly, with productivity gains benefiting some workers while younger people and first-time job seekers face shrinking opportunities.

Entry-level roles are particularly exposed as AI systems absorb routine and clerical tasks traditionally used to gain workplace experience.

Georgieva described the effect on young workers as comparable to a labour-market tsunami, arguing that reduced access to foundational roles risks long-term scarring for an entire generation entering employment.

IMF research suggests AI could affect roughly 60 percent of jobs in advanced economies and 40 percent globally, with only about half of exposed workers likely to benefit.

For others, automation may lead to lower wages, slower hiring and intensified pressure on middle-income roles lacking AI-driven productivity gains.

At Davos 2026, Georgieva warned that the rapid, unregulated deployment of AI in advanced economies risks outpacing public policy responses.

Without clear guardrails and inclusive labour strategies, she argued that technological acceleration could deepen inequality rather than supporting broad-based economic resilience.

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France accelerates rapid ban on social media for under-15s

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for an accelerated legislative process to introduce a nationwide ban on social media for children under 15 by September.

Speaking in a televised address, Macron said the proposal would move rapidly through parliament so that explicit rules are in place before the new school year begins.

Macron framed the initiative as a matter of child protection and digital sovereignty, arguing that foreign platforms or algorithmic incentives should not shape young people’s cognitive and emotional development.

He linked excessive social media use to manipulation, commercial exploitation and growing psychological harm among teenagers.

Data from France’s health watchdog show that almost half of teenagers spend between two and five hours a day on their smartphones, with the vast majority accessing social networks daily.

Regulators have associated such patterns with reduced self-esteem and increased exposure to content linked to self-harm, drug use and suicide, prompting legal action by families against major platforms.

The proposal from France follows similar debates in the UK and Australia, where age-based access restrictions have already been introduced.

The French government argues that decisive national action is necessary instead of waiting for a slower Europe-wide consensus, although Macron has reiterated support for a broader EU approach.

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Hollywood figures back anti-AI campaign

More than 800 creatives in the US have signed an anti-AI campaign accusing big technology companies of exploiting human work. High-profile figures from film and television in the country have backed the initiative, which argues that training AI on creative content without consent amounts to theft.

The campaign was launched by the Human Artistry Campaign, a coalition representing creators, unions and industry groups in the country. Supporters say AI systems should not be allowed to use artistic work without permission and fair compensation.

Actors and filmmakers in the US warned that unchecked AI adoption threatens livelihoods across film, television and music. Campaign organisers said innovation should not come at the expense of creators’ rights or ownership of their work.

The statement adds to growing pressure on lawmakers and technology firms in the US. Creative workers are calling for clearer rules on how AI can be developed and deployed across the entertainment industry.

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Burkina Faso pushes digital sovereignty through national infrastructure supervision

Burkina Faso has launched work on a Digital Infrastructure Supervision Centre as part of a broader effort to strengthen national oversight of digital public infrastructure and reduce exposure to external digital risks.

The project forms a core pillar of the government’s digital sovereignty strategy amid rising cybersecurity threats across public systems.

Led by the Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications, the facility is estimated to cost $5.4 million and is scheduled for completion by October.

Authorities state that the centre will centralise oversight of the national backbone network, secure cyberspace operations and supervise the functioning of domestic data centres instead of relying on external monitoring mechanisms.

Government officials argue that the supervision centre will enable resilient and sovereign management of critical digital systems while supporting a policy requiring sensitive national data to remain within domestic infrastructure.

The initiative also complements recent investments in biometric identity systems and regional digital identity frameworks.

Beyond infrastructure security, the project is positioned as groundwork for future AI adoption by strengthening sovereign data and connectivity systems.

The leadership of Burkina Faso continues to emphasise digital autonomy as a strategic priority across governance, identity management and emerging technologies.

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Humanoid robots and AI take centre stage as Musk joins Davos 2026

Elon Musk made his first appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos despite years of public criticism towards the gathering, arguing that AI and robotics represent the only realistic route to global abundance.

Speaking alongside BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink, Musk framed robotics as a civilisational shift rather than a niche innovation, claiming widespread automation will raise living standards and reshape economic growth.

Musk predicted a future where robots outnumber humans, with humanoid systems embedded across industry, healthcare and domestic life.

He highlighted elder care as a key use case in ageing societies facing labour shortages, suggesting that robotics could compensate for demographic decline rather than relying solely on migration or extended working lives.

Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robots are already performing simple factory tasks, with more complex functions expected within a year.

Musk indicated public sales could begin by 2027 once reliability thresholds are met. He also argued autonomous driving is largely resolved, pointing to expanding robotaxi deployments in the US and imminent regulatory decisions in Europe and China.

The global market for humanoid robotics remains relatively small, but analysts expect rapid expansion as AI capabilities improve and costs fall.

Musk at Davos 2026 presented robotics as an engine for economic acceleration, suggesting ubiquitous automation could unlock productivity gains on a scale comparable to past industrial revolutions.

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Siri to receive major AI upgrade with powerful enhancements

Apple is reportedly preparing a major overhaul of Siri by replacing the current system with an AI chatbot powered by Google’s Gemini technology. The change could mark the most significant upgrade to the assistant since its original launch.

Internal reports suggest the project aims to make Siri more conversational, capable of handling complex requests and sustained dialogue, rather than simple commands.

Future versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS are expected to introduce the new system. Users would still activate Siri with familiar voice commands or device buttons, regardless of the underlying technology.

Improved understanding of personal data could allow the assistant to manage calendars, photos, files, and settings more intuitively. Content creation features such as email drafting and note summarisation are also expected.

Growing competition from AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini has increased pressure on Apple to modernise its digital assistant. Reports suggest a formal reveal could take place at a future developer event, followed by a broader rollout with upcoming iPhone releases.

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Jeff Bezos enters satellite broadband race

Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, has announced plans to launch a global satellite internet network called TeraWave in the US. The project aims to deploy more than 5,400 satellites to deliver high-speed data services.

In the US, TeraWave will target data centres, businesses and government users rather than households. Blue Origin says the system could reach speeds of up to 6 terabits per second, exceeding the speeds of current commercial satellite services.

The move positions the US company as a direct rival to Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service. Starlink already operates thousands of satellites and focuses heavily on consumer internet access across the US and beyond.

Blue Origin plans to begin launching TeraWave satellites from the US by the end of 2027. The announcement adds to the intensifying competition in satellite communications as demand for global connectivity continues to grow.

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From chips to jobs: Huang’s vision for AI at Davos 2026

AI is evolving into a foundational economic system rather than a standalone technology, according to NVIDIA chief executive Jensen Huang, who described AI as a five-layer infrastructure spanning energy, hardware, data centres, models and applications.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Huang argued that building and operating each layer is triggering what he called the most significant infrastructure expansion in human history, with job creation stretching from power generation and construction to cloud operations and software development.

Investment patterns suggest a structural shift instead of a speculative cycle. Venture capital funding in 2025 reached record levels, largely flowing into AI-native firms across healthcare, manufacturing, robotics and financial services.

Huang stressed that the application layer will deliver the most significant economic return as AI moves from experimentation to core operational use across industries.

Concerns around job displacement were framed as misplaced. AI automates tasks rather than replacing professional judgement, enabling workers to focus on higher-value activities.

In healthcare, productivity gains from AI-assisted diagnostics and documentation are already increasing demand for radiologists and nurses rather than reducing headcount, as improved efficiency enables institutions to treat more patients.

Huang positioned AI as critical national infrastructure, urging governments to develop domestic capabilities aligned with local language, culture and industrial strengths.

He described AI literacy as an essential skill, comparable to leadership or management, while arguing that accessible AI tools could narrow global technology divides rather than widen them.

Diplo is live reporting on all sessions from the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos.

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