Sustainable development

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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Bangladesh unveils national roadmap for ethical AI development

Bangladesh has launched its first national AI Readiness Assessment Report to guide ethical, inclusive and rights-centred development of AI across public services.

The report was unveiled in Dhaka with representatives from government, international organisations, academia, civil society and the private sector. Officials described the assessment as a pivotal step as the country prepares for an increasingly AI-driven era.

The report outlines Bangladesh’s current strengths, including solid progress in e-government and high public trust in digital services, while also identifying areas requiring urgent attention.

Connectivity gaps, digital divides, limited computing capacity and the need for stronger data protection and cybersecurity remain key challenges. Policymakers noted that evidence-based decisions are essential as Bangladesh completes its National AI Policy.

International partners highlighted that the direction of AI development will depend heavily on choices made today. Strengthening digital infrastructure, improving skills, and building rights-driven governance structures were cited as central to ensuring AI benefits all communities.

Stakeholders also stressed the importance of using AI to improve services across health, education, justice and social protection without deepening existing inequalities.

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New study shows AI improves mental health diagnoses

A Lund University study shows an AI assistant can assess psychiatric conditions more accurately than standard mental health rating scales. In a study of 303 participants, the AI assistant Alba gave DSM-based diagnoses, outperforming standard tools in eight of nine disorders.

The study included conditions such as depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, autism, eating disorders, substance use disorder and bipolar disorder.

Alba proved particularly effective at distinguishing overlapping conditions where traditional rating scales often yield similar results. Participants also reported positive experiences with the AI interview, describing it as empathic, supportive and engaging.

Researchers highlighted that AI-assisted interviews could serve as a scalable, person-centred tool to complement clinical assessments while preserving the clinician’s essential role.

The study advances digital mental health tools, with Alba analysing the full DSM-5 manual instead of individual disorders. Talk To Alba offers AI-powered clinical interviews, CBT support, DSM-5-based diagnosis, and consultation transcription.

Experts emphasise that such AI solutions can ease healthcare workloads, provide preliminary assessments, and maintain high diagnostic reliability without replacing mental health professionals.

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Google launches AI skilling blueprint to close Africa’s skills gap

Google has launched an AI Skilling Blueprint for Africa, activating a $7.5 million commitment to support expert local organisations in training talent. An additional $2.25 million will be used to modernise public data infrastructure.

The initiative aims to address the continent’s widening AI skills gap, where over half of businesses report the biggest barrier to growth is a shortage of qualified professionals.

The framework identifies three core groups for development. AI Learners build foundational AI skills, AI Implementers upskill professionals across key sectors, and AI Innovators develop experts and entrepreneurs to create AI solutions suited to African contexts.

Partner organisations include FATE Foundation, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, JA Africa and the CyberSafe Foundation.

Complementing talent development, the initiative supports the creation of a Regional Data Commons through funding from Google.org and the Data Commons initiative, in partnership with UNECA, UN DESA and PARIS21.

High-quality, trustworthy data will enable African institutions to make informed decisions, drive innovation in public health, food security, economic planning, and ultimately strengthen a sustainable AI ecosystem across the continent.

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GPT‑5 expands research speed and idea generation for scientists

AI technology is increasingly helping scientists accelerate research across fields including biology, mathematics, physics, and computer science. Early GPT‑5 studies show it can synthesise information, propose experiments, and aid in solving long-standing mathematical problems.

Experts note the technology expands the range of ideas researchers can explore and shortens the time to validate results.

Case studies demonstrate tangible benefits: in biology, GPT‑5 helped identify mechanisms in human immune cells within minutes, suggesting experiments that confirmed the results.

In mathematics, GPT‑5 suggested new approaches, and in optimisation, it identified improved solutions later verified by researchers.

These advances reinforce human-led research rather than replacing it.

OpenAI for Science emphasises collaboration between AI and experts. GPT‑5 excels at conceptual literature review, exploring connections across disciplines, and proposing hypotheses for experimental testing.

Its greatest impact comes when researchers guide the process, breaking down problems, critiquing suggestions, and validating outcomes.

Researchers caution that AI does not replace human expertise. Current models aid speed, idea generation, and breadth, but expert oversight is essential to ensure reliable and meaningful scientific contributions.

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Smart glasses by Meta transform life for disabled users

Meta has presented a new generation of AI glasses designed to increase independence for people with disabilities. The devices support hands-free calls, messages and translations while offering voice-activated photography and video capture.

Users can rely on spoken prompts instead of phones when they want to explore their surroundings or capture important moments.

The glasses help blind and low-vision individuals identify objects, read documents and understand scenes through detailed AI descriptions. Meta partnered with the Blinded Veterans Association to produce a training guide that explains how to activate voice commands and manage daily tasks more easily.

Veterans Affairs rehabilitation centres have adopted the glasses to support people who need greater autonomy in unfamiliar environments.

Creators and athletes describe how the technology influences their work and daily activities. A filmmaker uses first-person recording and AI-assisted scene guidance to streamline production. A Paralympic sprinter relies on real-time updates to track workouts without pausing to check a phone.

Other users highlight how hands-free photography and environmental awareness allow them to stay engaged instead of becoming distracted by screens.

Meta emphasises its collaboration with disabled communities to shape features that reflect diverse needs. The company views AI glasses as a route to improved participation, stronger confidence and wider digital access.

An approach that signals a long-term commitment to wearable technology that supports inclusion in everyday life.

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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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NVIDIA AI transforms smart cities

Cities worldwide face increasing operational challenges as populations grow and infrastructure becomes strained. Traffic congestion, emergency response coordination, and fragmented data pipelines make it difficult for local authorities to obtain real-time insights for effective decision-making.

NVIDIA’s Blueprint for smart city AI, combined with OpenUSD digital twins, allows cities to simulate complex scenarios and generate accurate sensor data.

These digital twins enable authorities to test urban systems, train vision AI models, and deploy real-time AI agents for tasks such as video analytics, emergency response, and traffic monitoring.

Several cities and organisations have adopted these technologies with measurable results. Kaohsiung City reduced incident response times by 80%, Raleigh achieved 95% vehicle detection accuracy, and French rail networks cut energy use by 20%.

Applications range from optimising rail operations to automating street inspections and video review.

By integrating AI-driven insights into city management, authorities can shift from reactive measures to proactive operations. Simulation, monitoring, and analysis tools improve infrastructure planning, enhance efficiency, and allow urban systems to respond dynamically to emerging situations.

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AI shows promise in supporting emergency medical decisions

Drexel University researchers studied how AI can aid emergency decisions in pediatric trauma at Children’s National Medical Center. Clinicians used the AI display DecAide to view key patient data, AI-synthesised information, or AI data with treatment recommendations.

The study tested 35 emergency care providers across 12 scripted scenarios, comparing their decisions to established ground truth outcomes.

The results showed participants achieved the highest accuracy, 64.4%, when both AI information and recommendations were provided, compared to 56.3% with information alone and 55.8% with no AI support.

Decision times were consistent across all conditions, suggesting AI did not slow clinicians, though providers varied in how they used the recommendations. Some consulted the guidance after deciding, while others ignored it due to trust or transparency concerns.

Researchers highlight the potential for AI to augment emergency care without replacing human judgement, particularly in time-critical settings. Researchers stress the need for larger studies and clear policies to ensure clinicians can trust and use AI tools effectively.

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EU unveils vision for a modern justice system

The European Commission has introduced a new Digital Justice Package designed to guide the EU justice systems into a fully digital era.

A plan that sets out a long-term strategy to support citizens, businesses and legal professionals with modern tools instead of outdated administrative processes. Central objectives include improved access to information, stronger cross-border cooperation and a faster shift toward AI-supported services.

The DigitalJustice@2030 Strategy contains fourteen steps that encourage member states to adopt advanced digital tools and share successful practices.

A key part of the roadmap focuses on expanding the European Legal Data Space, enabling legislation and case law to be accessed more efficiently.

The Commission intends to deepen cooperation by developing a shared toolbox for AI and IT systems and by seeking a unified European solution to cross-border videoconferencing challenges.

Additionally, the Commission has presented a Judicial Training Strategy designed to equip judges, prosecutors and legal staff with the digital and AI skills required to apply the EU digital law effectively.

Training will include digital case management, secure communication methods and awareness of AI’s influence on legal practice. The goal is to align national and EU programmes to increase long-term impact, rather than fragmenting efforts.

European officials argue that digital justice strengthens competitiveness by reducing delays, encouraging transparency and improving access for citizens and businesses.

The package supports the EU’s Digital Decade ambition to make all key public services available online by 2030. It stands as a further step toward resilient and modern judicial systems across the Union.

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