Sustainable development

Agentic AI gains ground as GenAI maturity grows in public sector

Public sector organisations around the world are rapidly moving beyond experimentation with generative AI (GenAI), with up to 90% now planning to explore, pilot, or implement agentic AI systems within the next two years.

Capgemini’s latest global survey of 350 public sector agencies found that most already use or trial GenAI, while agentic AI is being recognised as the next step — enabling autonomous, goal-driven decision-making with minimal human input.

Unlike GenAI, which generates content subject to human oversight, agentic AI can act independently, creating new possibilities for automation and public service delivery.

Dr Kirti Jain of Capgemini explained that GenAI depends on human-in-the-loop (HITL) processes, where users review outputs before acting. By contrast, agentic AI completes the final step itself, representing a future phase of automation. However, data governance remains a key barrier to adoption.

Data sovereignty emerged as a leading concern for 64% of surveyed public sector leaders. Fewer than one in four said they had sufficient data to train reliable AI systems. Dr Jain emphasised that governance must be embedded from the outset — not added as an afterthought — to ensure data quality, accountability, and consistency in decision-making.

A proactive approach to governance offers the only stable foundation for scaling AI responsibly. Managing the full data lifecycle — from acquisition and storage to access and application — requires strict privacy and quality controls.

Significant risks arise when flawed AI-generated insights influence decisions affecting entire populations. Capgemini’s support for government agencies focuses on three areas: secure infrastructure, privacy-led data usability, and smarter, citizen-centric services.

EPA Victoria CTO Abhijit Gupta underscored the need for timely, secure, and accessible data as a prerequisite for AI in the public sector. Accuracy and consistency, Dr Jain noted, are essential whether outcomes are delivered by humans or machines. Governance, he added, should remain technology-agnostic yet agile.

Strong data foundations require only minor adjustments to scale agentic AI that can manage full decision-making cycles. Capgemini’s model of ‘active data governance’ aims to enable public sector AI to scale safely and sustainably.

Singapore was highlighted as a leading example of responsible innovation, driven by rapid experimentation and collaborative development. The AI Trailblazers programme, co-run with the private sector, is tackling over 100 real-world GenAI challenges through a test-and-iterate model.

Minister for Digital Josephine Teo recently reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to sharing lessons and best practices in sustainable AI development. According to Dr Jain, the country’s success lies not only in rapid adoption, but in how AI is applied to improve services for citizens and society.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

ChatGPT stuns users by guessing object in viral video using smart questions

A video featuring ChatGPT Live has gone viral after it correctly guessed an object hidden in a user’s hand using only a series of questions.

The clip, shared on the social media platform X, shows the chatbot narrowing down its guesses until it lands on the correct answer — a pen — within less than a minute. The video has fascinated viewers by showing how far generative AI has come since its initial launch.

Multimodal AI like ChatGPT can now process audio, video and text together, making interactions more intuitive and lifelike.

Another user attempted the same challenge with Gemini AI by holding an AC remote. Gemini described it as a ‘control panel for controlling temperature’, which was close but not entirely accurate.

The fun experiment also highlights the growing real-world utility of generative AI. During Google’s I/O conference during the year, the company demonstrated how Gemini Live can help users troubleshoot and repair appliances at home by understanding both spoken instructions and visual input.

Beyond casual use, these AI tools are proving helpful in serious scenarios. A UPSC aspirant recently explained how uploading her Detailed Application Form to a chatbot allowed it to generate practice questions.

She used those prompts to prepare for her interview and credited the AI with helping her boost her confidence.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

New AI device brings early skin cancer diagnosis to remote communities

A Scottish research team has developed a pioneering AI-powered tool that could transform how skin cancer is diagnosed in some of the world’s most isolated regions.

The device, created by PhD student Tess Watt at Heriot-Watt University, enables rapid diagnosis without needing internet access or direct contact with a dermatologist.

Patients use a compact camera connected to a Raspberry Pi computer to photograph suspicious skin lesions.

The system then compares the image against thousands of preloaded examples using advanced image recognition and delivers a diagnosis in real time. These results are then shared with local GP services, allowing treatment to begin without delay.

The self-contained diagnostic system is among the first designed specifically for remote medical use. Watt said that home-based healthcare is vital, especially with growing delays in GP appointments.

The device, currently 85 per cent accurate, is expected to improve further with access to more image datasets and machine learning enhancements.

The team plans to trial the tool in real-world settings after securing NHS ethical approval. The initial rollout is aimed at rural Scottish communities, but the technology could benefit global populations with poor access to dermatological care.

Heriot-Watt researchers also believe the device will aid patients who are infirm or housebound, making early diagnosis more accessible than ever.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Perplexity CEO predicts that AI browser could soon replace recruiters and assistants

Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas believes that the company’s new AI-powered browser, Comet, could soon replace two key white-collar roles in most offices: recruiters and executive assistants.

Speaking on The Verge podcast, Srinivas explained that with the integration of more advanced reasoning models like GPT-5 or Claude 4.5, Comet will be able to handle tasks traditionally assigned to these positions.

He also described how a recruiter’s week-long workload could be reduced to a single AI prompt.

From sourcing candidates to scheduling interviews, tracking responses in Google Sheets, syncing calendars, and even briefing users ahead of meetings, Comet is built to manage the entire process—often without any follow-up input.

The tool remains in an invite-only phase and is currently available to premium users.

Srinivas also framed Comet as the early foundation of a broader AI operating system for knowledge workers, enabling users to issue natural language commands for complex tasks.

He emphasised the importance of adopting AI early, warning that those who fail to keep pace with the technology’s rapid growth—where breakthroughs arrive every few months—risk being left behind in the job market.

In a separate discussion, he urged younger generations to reduce time spent scrolling on Instagram and instead focus on mastering AI tools. According to him, the shift is inevitable, and those who embrace it now will hold a long-term professional advantage.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Meta CEO unveils plan to spend hundreds of billions on AI data centres

Mark Zuckerberg has pledged to invest hundreds of billions of dollars to build a network of massive data centres focused on superintelligent AI. The initiative forms part of Meta’s wider push to lead the race in developing machines capable of outperforming humans in complex tasks.

The first of these centres, called Prometheus, is set to launch in 2026. Another facility, Hyperion, is expected to scale up to 5 gigawatts. Zuckerberg said the company is building several more AI ‘titan clusters’, each one covering an area comparable to a significant part of Manhattan.

He also cited Meta’s strong advertising revenue as the reason it can afford such bold spending despite investor concerns.

Meta recently regrouped its AI projects under a new division, Superintelligence Labs, following internal setbacks and high-profile staff departures.

The company hopes the division will generate fresh revenue streams through Meta AI tools, video ad generators, and wearable smart devices. It is reportedly considering dropping its most powerful open-source model, Behemoth, in favour of a closed alternative.

The firm has increased its 2025 capital expenditure to up to $72 billion and is actively hiring top talent, including former Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang and ex-GitHub chief Nat Friedman.

Analysts say Meta’s AI investments are paying off in advertising but warn that the real return on long-term AI dominance will take time to emerge.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

DuckDuckGo adds new tool to block AI-generated images from search results

Privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo has launched a new feature that allows users to filter out AI-generated images from search results.

Although the company admits the tool is not perfect and may miss some content, it claims it will significantly reduce the number of synthetic images users encounter.

The new filter uses open-source blocklists, including a more aggressive ‘nuclear’ option, sourced from tools like uBlock Origin and uBlacklist.

Users can access the setting via the Images tab after performing a search or use a dedicated link — noai.duckduckgo.com — which keeps the filter always on and also disables AI summaries and the browser’s chatbot.

The update responds to growing frustration among internet users. Platforms like X and Reddit have seen complaints about AI content flooding search results.

In one example, users searching for ‘baby peacock’ reported seeing just as many or more AI images than real ones, making it harder to distinguish between fake and authentic content.

DuckDuckGo isn’t alone in trying to tackle unwanted AI material. In 2024, Hiya launched a Chrome extension aimed at spotting deepfake audio across major platforms.

Microsoft’s Bing has also partnered with groups like StopNCII to remove explicit synthetic media from its results, showing that the fight against AI content saturation is becoming a broader industry trend.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Isambard-AI launch brings Britain closer to AI breakthroughs

The UK’s most powerful AI supercomputer, Isambard-AI, has officially launched in Bristol. Developed with HPE and NVIDIA, the £225 million system marks a major step in national research capability.

It can compute in one second what the global population would take 80 years to process. Housed at the National Composites Centre, it aims to drive breakthroughs in healthcare, robotics, climate science and more.

Built by the University of Bristol’s Centre for Supercomputing, the machine is part of the UK Government’s AI Research Resource (AIRR) and was launched by Science Secretary Peter Kyle.

Alongside the Dawn supercomputer in Cambridge, Isambard-AI will deliver 23 AI ExaFLOPs — equal to the UK population working non-stop for 85,000 years. It is 100,000 times faster than an average laptop and supports drug discovery, personalised medicine and advanced data analysis.

Powered by 5,400 Nvidia GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips and HPE’s Cray EX platform, it is among the greenest supercomputers globally, running on zero-carbon electricity and using direct liquid cooling to cut energy use by up to 90%.

Plans are underway to reuse its waste heat for nearby homes and businesses. Its sustainable design cuts emissions by 72% versus traditional builds.

The University of Bristol, chosen for its AI and HPC expertise, also offers a government-backed master’s through the Sparck AI scholarship. Vice-Chancellor Professor Evelyn Welch called the launch a milestone for British AI.

Researchers are already using Isambard-AI to analyse data from wearable cameras for assisted living support, and to scan MRI data to speed up cancer detection and treatment planning.

Other teams are modelling disease-related proteins and using AI to detect illness in dairy cattle by monitoring herd behaviour — showing the system’s broad real-world impact.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

5G Advanced lays the groundwork for 6G, says 5G Americas

5G Americas has released a new white paper outlining how 5G Advanced features in 3GPP Releases 18 to 20 are shaping the path to 6G.

The report highlights how 5G Advanced is evolving mobile networks through embedded AI, scaled IoT, improved energy efficiency, and broader service capabilities. Viet Nguyen, President of 5G Americas, called it a turning point for wireless systems, offering more intelligent, resilient, and sustainable connectivity.

AI-native networking is a key innovation which brings machine learning into the radio and core network. The innovation enables zero-touch automation, predictive maintenance, and self-organising systems, cutting fault detection by 90% and reducing false alarms by 70%.

Energy efficiency is another core benefit. Features like cell sleep modes and antenna switching can reduce energy use by up to 56%. Ambient IoT also advances, enabling battery-less devices for industrial and consumer use in energy-constrained environments.

Latency improvements like L4S and enhanced QoS allow scalable support for immersive XR and real-time automation. Advances in spectral efficiency and satellite support are boosting uplink speeds above 500 Mbps and expanding coverage to remote areas.

Andrea Brambilla of Nokia noted that 5G Advanced supports digital twins, private networks, and AI-driven transformation. Pei Hou of T-Mobile said it builds on 5G Standalone to prepare for a sustainable shift to 6G.

The paper urges updated policies on AI governance, spectrum sharing, and IoT standards to ensure global interoperability. Strategic takeaways include AI, automation, and energy savings as key to long-term innovation and monetisation across the public and private sectors.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Meta lures AI leaders as Apple faces instability

Meta has hired two senior AI researchers from Apple, Mark Lee and Tom Gunter, as part of its ongoing effort to attract top talent in AI, according to Bloomberg.

Instead of staying within Apple’s ranks, both experts have joined Meta’s Superintelligence Labs, following Ruoming Pang, Apple’s former head of large language model development, whom Meta recently secured with a reported compensation package worth over $200 million.

Gunter, once a distinguished engineer at Apple, briefly worked for another AI firm before accepting Meta’s offer.

The moves reflect increasing instability inside Apple’s AI division, where leadership is reportedly exploring partnerships with external providers like OpenAI to power future Siri features rather than relying solely on in-house solutions.

Meta’s aggressive hiring strategy comes as CEO Mark Zuckerberg prioritises AI development, pledging substantial investment in talent and computing power to rival companies such as OpenAI and Google.

Some Apple employees have been presented with counteroffers, but these reportedly fail to match the scale of Meta’s packages.

Instead of slowing down, Meta appears determined to solidify its position as a leader in AI research, continuing to lure key experts away from competitors while Apple faces challenges retaining its top engineers.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Power demands reshape future of data centres

As AI and cloud computing demand surges, Siemens is tackling critical energy and sustainability challenges facing the data centre industry. With power densities surpassing 100kW per rack, traditional infrastructure is being pushed beyond its limits.

Siemens highlighted the urgent need for integrated digital solutions to address growing pressures such as delayed grid connections, rising costs, and speed of deployment. Operators are increasingly adopting microgrids and forming utility partnerships to ensure resilience and control over power access.

Siemens views data centres not just as energy consumers but as contributors to the grid, using stored energy to balance supply. The shift is pushing the industry to become more involved in grid stability and renewable integration.

While achieving net zero remains challenging, data centres are adopting on-site renewables, advanced cooling systems, and AI-driven management tools to boost efficiency.

Siemens’ own software, such as the Building X Suite, is helping reduce energy waste and predict maintenance needs, aligning operational effectiveness with sustainability goals.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!