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AI for Good Global Summit 2026 concludes with a focus on implementation

The AI for Good Global Summit concluded after four days of discussions highlighting the practical deployment of AI across healthcare, agriculture, mobility, education, creative industries and public policy.

The programme also explored the technologies and infrastructure supporting AI deployment, including quantum technologies, robotics, international standards and digital infrastructure.

The closing programme featured the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Grand Finale 2026, an ITU-led UN robotics competition for young people aged 10 to 18. Teams from more than 50 countries competed over four days to develop robotic solutions addressing this year’s theme of food security.

Venezuela won both competition categories, with participants using open-source software and hardware to design, build and programme robots focused on food security.

The final day also featured discussions on AI governance, standards and inclusion. A morning panel examined the underrepresentation of women in AI development and decision-making, bringing together representatives from standards bodies, industry, civil society, telecommunications and ITU networks.

Speakers argued that gender equity should be treated as a core element of AI standardisation rather than a secondary consideration, linking women’s leadership to education, research, technical standards and institutional decision-making.

Youth engagement remained another key theme. In the Youth Zone, participants took part in an AI safety challenge in which they role-played as developers designing safeguards for new AI applications, exploring security principles, ethical risks and responsible AI governance.

The AI for Good Global Summit also explored longer-term questions about AI, culture and education. Futurist Ray Kurzweil discussed the future trajectory of AI, while Arizona State University President Michael Crow and musician will.i.am, ITU Goodwill Ambassador for the AI Skills Coalition, examined AI’s growing role in education and future workforce skills.

The Centre Stage programme concluded with a presentation by Galaxy Corporation CEO Yong-ho Choi on the convergence of AI, robotics and entertainment, including a performance featuring both humans and robots.

The 2026 AI for Good Global Summit concluded with a clear message that the future of AI depends not only on technological progress but also on standards, skills, inclusion and international cooperation to support responsible deployment.

Why does it matter?

The 2026 AI for Good Global Summit reflected a broader shift in AI governance from discussing high-level principles to addressing implementation. Across healthcare, education, robotics, standards and digital infrastructure, the focus was increasingly on how AI can be deployed responsibly in practice rather than whether it should be adopted.

The summit also highlighted the growing importance of international standards, youth engagement and inclusive participation in shaping AI’s future. By bringing together governments, industry, researchers and civil society, the event reinforced the view that responsible AI will depend as much on cooperation and capacity-building as on technological innovation.

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Quantum computing advances fusion energy research

Scientists from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Cleveland Clinic, and IBM have achieved a first-of-its-kind quantum computing milestone by using quantum-centric computing to calculate the molecular behaviour of a material linked to future fusion energy production.

The team combined quantum processors with classical supercomputers to study how FLiBe, a molten salt considered a promising material for fusion reactors, interacts with tritium at the atomic level. The work could help address one of fusion energy’s biggest challenges: producing and extracting enough tritium to support commercial-scale fusion power.

The research also demonstrates how quantum computing, AI, and high-performance computing can complement one another to solve scientific problems beyond the reach of conventional computing alone. Researchers now aim to scale the approach, improve its efficiency and support the design of advanced materials for future fusion systems.

The breakthrough forms part of the US Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission, which seeks to combine emerging computing technologies with scientific research infrastructure to accelerate discoveries in areas such as clean energy.

Why does it matter?

Fusion energy has long been viewed as a potential source of abundant, low-carbon power, but challenges such as reliable tritium production remain major obstacles to commercial deployment. Advances in modelling materials like FLiBe could help overcome one of the key technical barriers to practical fusion reactors.

The research also highlights the growing role of hybrid computing, combining quantum computing, AI and high-performance computing, in accelerating scientific discovery. As quantum hardware matures, this approach could shorten development cycles for advanced materials, energy technologies and other complex scientific applications.

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China calls for greater self-reliance in science and technology

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for faster progress towards high-level scientific and technological self-reliance, arguing that innovation should become the primary driver of China’s modernisation.

Speaking at the national science and technology conference in Beijing, Xi described the 2026–2030 period as critical to achieving China’s goal of becoming a global science and technology leader by 2035.

Xi highlighted China’s recent advances in AI, quantum technology, advanced manufacturing, robotics, pharmaceuticals and space exploration. At the same time, he acknowledged persistent challenges, including gaps in original innovation, inefficient research investment and shortages of high-quality scientific talent.

He called for stronger coordination of national research priorities, greater support for technology transfer, improved intellectual property protection and a financial system better aligned with scientific and technological innovation.

Xi also emphasised the importance of frontier technologies, calling for greater investment in AI, quantum technologies, life sciences, integrated circuits, and strategic areas including deep-sea, deep-space and deep-earth exploration.

He argued that scientific research should become more application-oriented while industry should play a greater role in scientific discovery, strengthening links between research institutions and commercial innovation.

Alongside investment, Xi stressed that technological development must remain secure, ethical and people-centred. He called for stronger governance of AI and other emerging technologies, clearer ethical standards, improved security risk monitoring and greater support for young scientific talent.

China also honoured 258 scientific projects and researchers during the conference, underscoring the country’s continued emphasis on innovation as a strategic national priority.

Why does it matter?

The speech reinforces China’s long term strategy of reducing dependence on foreign technologies while accelerating domestic innovation in critical fields such as AI, semiconductors and quantum computing. It also illustrates how Beijing increasingly views scientific leadership as a foundation of economic competitiveness, national security and geopolitical influence.

By linking research policy, industrial development and AI governance, China is pursuing a coordinated model in which technological innovation is treated as a strategic state priority. That approach is likely to shape global competition in emerging technologies as countries race to build sovereign capabilities in frontier sectors.

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ECB urges banks to prepare for AI cyber threats

The European Central Bank has called on major euro area banks to prepare action plans to address AI-enabled cybersecurity threats.

In a letter to bank CEOs, ECB Banking Supervision said emerging AI models can identify software vulnerabilities and generate functioning exploits at unprecedented speed.

The ECB warned that AI is compressing the time between vulnerability discovery and exploitation, with potentially serious implications for the confidentiality, integrity and resilience of banks’ ICT systems.

The central bank said the change is a long-term shift in the threat landscape, not a temporary risk linked to a single tool.

Banks have been asked to submit action plans to their Joint Supervisory Teams by 31 October 2026.

The plans should set out concrete measures, resources, roles, responsibilities and implementation timelines for strengthening cyber resilience.

Short-term priorities include faster vulnerability and patch management, stronger monitoring and detection, AI-enabled defensive capabilities and updated third-party risk management.

The ECB also called for structural measures such as defence-in-depth, improved cyber hygiene, infrastructure modernisation, crisis management, recovery arrangements and information-sharing.

The letter follows a European Systemic Risk Board warning about systemic cyber risks posed by frontier AI models.

ECB Banking Supervision also said it will address cybersecurity risks linked to quantum computing in a separate letter.

Why does it matter?

The ECB letter turns AI-enabled cyber risk into a concrete supervisory issue for major euro area banks. If AI accelerates vulnerability discovery and exploit generation, banks will face shorter windows for patching, detection and response. The focus on third-party providers and supply chains is also important because financial institutions depend heavily on external ICT services. The ECB’s approach links AI cyber threats with DORA-style operational resilience, showing that advanced AI is now part of mainstream financial supervision.

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EU launches three new digital skills academies

The European Commission has launched three new Digital Skills Academies focused on AI, quantum technologies and virtual worlds.

The academies were announced during Digital Skills EU Days, an annual event bringing together digital skills projects, national coalitions, policymakers, industry representatives and education organisations from across the EU.

Funded under the Digital Europe Programme, the academies are intended to establish specialised training in critical technology areas and help the EU meet its Digital Decade targets.

The Commission said Europe’s competitiveness and leadership depend on digital talent, linking the initiative to the Union of Skills, the AI Continent Action Plan, the Apply AI Strategy and the Digital Decade Policy Programme.

The new academies add to wider Digital Europe Programme investments in skilling, upskilling and reskilling. The programme has invested more than €294 million in the EU digital skills initiatives covering areas such as data, cloud, cybersecurity and AI.

During the event, the Commission also presented the 2026 European Digital Skills Awards, recognising projects focused on AI literacy, cybersecurity education, digital inclusion, research data management and women’s participation in ICT.

Why does it matter?

The new academies show that the EU is treating digital skills as part of its strategic technology agenda, alongside regulation, infrastructure and industrial policy. AI, quantum technologies and virtual worlds all require specialised expertise, and shortages in these areas could slow deployment across businesses, research institutions and public services. The initiative also supports the EU’s broader goal of strengthening technological competitiveness and reducing dependence on external talent and capabilities.

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Türkiye steps into quantum race with strategic roadmap

Türkiye has published an updated quantum technology roadmap, setting out 85 priority technology topics across quantum computing, quantum sensing and quantum communication.

The roadmap was developed through the Quantum Focus Technology Network (OTAĞ), coordinated by the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, Secretariat of Defence Industries. The process involved 305 experts from 123 institutions and organisations, including civilian and military stakeholders.

The roadmap classifies the 85 proposed technology topics into 34 near-term and 51 long-term priorities. Technologies were assessed using an analytical prioritisation method that considered Türkiye’s needs, existing capabilities, infrastructure, and end user requirements.

The strategy focuses on building domestic capability in quantum computing, sensing and communication by strengthening research infrastructure, developing skilled human capital and expanding cooperation between universities, industry, research centres and public institutions.

Priority steps include postgraduate programmes in quantum engineering and hardware technologies, researcher exchange and internship schemes, international research partnerships and critical infrastructure such as nanofabrication, cryogenic testing, precision measurement laboratories and sensor packaging.

The roadmap forms part of Türkiye’s wider effort to build a coordinated quantum ecosystem and improve its international competitiveness in a field with implications for cybersecurity, secure communications, advanced sensing and future computing.

Why does it matter?

Quantum technologies could reshape encryption, secure communications, sensing, navigation and high-performance computing. Türkiye’s roadmap is important because it turns quantum capability-building into a structured national programme with defence and strategic-technology relevance. By aligning universities, public institutions, industry and research centres around shared priorities, Türkiye is trying to reduce dependence on foreign technologies and position itself earlier in a field where global leadership is still being contested.

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Spain moves closer to hosting one of Europe’s first AI gigafactories

Spain has taken another significant step in its effort to become a leading European hub for AI and advanced computing infrastructure.

The Council of Ministers has approved a €300 million voluntary contribution to the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC), the body responsible for supporting Europe’s AI factories and the future development of AI gigafactories.

According to the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Administration, the contribution is a critical component of Spain’s bid to host one of the EU’s first AI gigafactories.

The government argues that access to large-scale computing infrastructure is becoming essential for researchers, universities, startups and businesses seeking to develop advanced AI systems and remain competitive in an increasingly AI-driven economy.

The investment builds on Spain’s existing role within Europe’s supercomputing ecosystem. The country already hosts AI factories at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center and the Galician Supercomputing Center, while the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer has supported projects ranging from genomic research to climate and digital twin initiatives.

The funding also aims to strengthen Spain’s position in quantum technologies, an area increasingly viewed as strategically important for Europe’s long-term technological autonomy.

The announcement reflects a wider European push to expand sovereign computing capabilities as demand for AI training infrastructure grows worldwide.

By seeking to host an AI gigafactory, Spain hopes to attract investment, support innovation, strengthen domestic technological capabilities and position itself as a central player in Europe’s next-generation AI ecosystem.

Why does it matter?

Access to large-scale computing infrastructure is becoming a strategic prerequisite for advanced AI development. Training frontier AI models, running large-scale simulations and supporting scientific research require computing resources that are increasingly concentrated among a small number of global technology providers. Spain’s investment seeks to strengthen both national and European capacity in this critical area.

The announcement also reflects the EU’s broader push for technological sovereignty. By expanding domestic AI and supercomputing infrastructure, Europe aims to reduce dependence on foreign computing resources, support innovation ecosystems and ensure that advanced technologies are developed within frameworks aligned with European values, regulations and industrial priorities. The competition to host AI gigafactories is therefore as much about economic competitiveness and strategic autonomy as it is about computing power.

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NVIDIA unveils Vera Rubin supercomputing platform for AI and science

NVIDIA has introduced the Vera Rubin platform, a new supercomputing architecture designed to accelerate scientific research, AI development and large-scale data analysis. NVIDIA says a single rack of the system can deliver performance comparable to some of the world’s most powerful supercomputers.

The platform combines NVIDIA Rubin GPUs, Vera CPUs and high-speed networking technologies to support advanced simulations, AI training and data-intensive research workloads. With more than 7 exaflops of AI performance and 5 petaflops of native FP64 computing power, Vera Rubin is aimed at demanding workloads including climate modelling, computational fluid dynamics, and quantum chemistry.

Several leading research institutions have already announced plans to deploy systems based on the platform. Planned installations include the Blue Lion system at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre, the Doudna supercomputer at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and new systems at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

According to NVIDIA, Vera Rubin will provide a unified environment for simulation, AI training, inference, and data processing, enabling researchers to tackle increasingly complex scientific and industrial challenges. Commercial availability is expected later this year.

Why does it matter?

Vera Rubin highlights the growing convergence of AI and high-performance computing, allowing researchers to run advanced simulations, analyse vast datasets, and train AI models on a single platform.

Greater computing power can accelerate breakthroughs in fields such as climate science, energy, healthcare, and materials research, reducing the time and cost required to solve complex scientific problems while strengthening global competitiveness in AI and advanced technology.

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US sets post-quantum cryptography deadlines for federal systems

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order setting deadlines for federal agencies to migrate high-priority systems to post-quantum cryptography.

Executive Order 14409 says large-scale quantum computers could threaten widely used cryptographic systems and create risks for sensitive government data, critical infrastructure and the digital economy. It also highlights ‘harvest now, decrypt later’ attacks, where adversaries collect encrypted information today and decrypt it once quantum capabilities become available.

The order makes it US policy to transition federal information systems to National Institute of Standards and Technology-approved Federal Information Processing Standards for post-quantum cryptography. It also directs the federal government to assist critical infrastructure owners and operators with their own migration planning.

Within 30 days, each federal agency must name a post-quantum cryptography migration lead responsible for cryptographic inventories, migration planning and cross-agency coordination.

The Office of Management and Budget must issue guidance within 90 days requiring agencies to review inventories of high-value assets and high-impact systems (excluding National Security Systems) and submit migration plans.

Federal high-value assets and high-impact systems must transition to post-quantum cryptography for key establishment by 31 December 2030 and for digital signatures by 31 December 2031.

The order also directs CISA, in coordination with NIST, to publish public guidance within 270 days on minimum elements for a cryptographic bill of materials, supporting automated assessment of cryptographic assets in hardware and software.

Procurement rules are also expected to change. The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council must propose requirements for covered contractors to comply with NIST cryptographic standards, including applicable post-quantum standards, by 31 December 2030.

Why does it matter?

The order gives the US post-quantum transition concrete deadlines and turns cryptographic migration into an operational, procurement and critical infrastructure issue. Quantum-capable attacks remain a future risk, but encrypted data can be stolen now and decrypted later. By requiring inventories, migration leads, contractor obligations and cryptographic bills of materials, the EO pushes agencies and suppliers to understand where vulnerable cryptography is used before quantum threats become practical.

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Ottawa strengthens role in quantum computing and cybersecurity research

Researchers and technology experts in Ottawa are contributing to advances in quantum computing, a technology that could transform fields such as drug discovery, clean energy and space exploration by solving highly complex problems beyond the reach of many conventional computers.

Researchers said quantum computing could accelerate scientific discovery and enable breakthroughs that may eventually translate into practical applications across a range of industries. However, the technology also presents significant cybersecurity challenges, as sufficiently advanced quantum computers could eventually undermine widely used encryption methods that protect digital communications and online services.

The University of Ottawa is conducting research into quantum communications and cryptography aimed at developing security technologies capable of withstanding future quantum-enabled threats. Researchers are working to better understand the fundamentals of quantum mechanics and future security systems.

Industry representatives said Ottawa’s concentration of cryptographic expertise has helped establish this city in Canada as an important centre for quantum cybersecurity research and innovation.

Why does it matter?

Quantum computing has the potential to become one of the most transformative technologies of the coming decades. Its ability to process certain types of complex calculations far more efficiently than conventional computers could accelerate advances in areas such as materials science, pharmaceuticals, energy systems and scientific research.

At the same time, quantum technologies present a major cybersecurity challenge. Many of today’s encryption systems were designed for classical computers and could become vulnerable to future quantum attacks. As a result, governments, universities and technology companies are investing in quantum-safe cryptography and secure communications. Ottawa’s growing role in quantum research reflects a broader international effort to prepare for both the opportunities and security implications of the quantum era.

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