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Philippines uses AI and satellites to strengthen food security

The Philippine Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Statistics Authority are partnering to use AI and satellite technology to improve agricultural data collection, strengthen national food security and support more informed policymaking. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that enhanced data sharing between the two agencies would enable policymakers to make more informed decisions on food production, logistics and supply.

The Philippine Statistics Authority has begun piloting AI and satellite imagery to estimate crop production, building on approaches already used in several countries. National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said the technology would become more accurate as the Department of Agriculture expands field verification to validate satellite-generated data. The agencies also agreed to broaden the use of digital technologies in agricultural statistics and strengthen the capacity of local government units.

Agriculture Secretary Tiu Laurel also renewed calls to rebuild the department’s network of agricultural extension workers, describing them as its missing ‘boots on the ground’. Expanding the field workforce would support near real-time data collection, improve production forecasts and enable faster responses to challenges affecting farmers and fisherfolk. He also welcomed this year’s national census, saying updated population data would improve food demand forecasting.

The partnership aims to shift the Department of Agriculture from reactive to proactive food security management. Updated agricultural and population data will help the government better estimate future food demand, refine production targets and improve budget planning. According to Tiu Laurel, data should help policymakers anticipate future challenges rather than simply document past events in the Philippines.

Why does it matter?

The initiative illustrates how AI and Earth observation technologies are becoming practical tools for agricultural governance. More timely and accurate data can help governments improve production planning, respond more quickly to climate-related disruptions and strengthen long-term food security.

The partnership also highlights that digital transformation depends on both technology and institutional capacity. By combining AI, satellite imagery and field verification through agricultural extension workers, the Philippines is seeking to build a more reliable and responsive agricultural information system that could serve as a model for other countries facing similar food security challenges.

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UNESCO study highlights AI gender gap in South Asia

UNESCO has published the Outlook Study on Artificial Intelligence and Gender in South Asia, the first regional assessment of women’s participation in AI across Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Developed by the UNESCO Women for Ethical AI (W4EAI) South Asia Chapter, the report examines women’s representation across the AI ecosystem, from education and research to employment and entrepreneurship, highlighting the structural barriers that limit leadership opportunities.

The study finds that greater access to higher education has not translated into equal participation in AI-related fields. Women account for only around one-third of STEM students across the region and remain significantly underrepresented in computing, engineering and AI disciplines.

Although women contribute to AI research, they hold only 26% of corresponding or lead authorship positions, reflecting limited representation in research leadership. In the labour market, women remain concentrated in lower-value AI roles, while technical positions involving AI model development continue to be dominated by men.

Female entrepreneurs also face persistent barriers, including limited access to investment, technical expertise and institutional support.

Drawing on education and labour statistics, bibliometric analysis, LinkedIn Economic Graph data and interviews with women working in AI, UNESCO concludes that AI could either reinforce existing inequalities or become a catalyst for greater gender equality, depending on policy choices.

The report calls for greater investment in inclusive AI education, skills development, leadership opportunities and ethical AI governance to ensure women can participate fully in shaping the region’s AI future.

Why does it matter?

The report shows that gender inequality in AI extends well beyond education, affecting research leadership, employment, entrepreneurship and access to decision-making roles across South Asia. As countries invest in AI-driven economic growth, broader participation will be important not only for fairness but also for innovation and the development of AI systems that reflect diverse perspectives.

The findings also reinforce the growing link between AI governance and inclusion. Building ethical and trustworthy AI depends not only on technical safeguards but also on ensuring that women have equal opportunities to shape how AI technologies are designed, developed and deployed.

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Greece begins parliamentary debate on EU AI Act implementation

Greece has introduced a draft law to implement the EU AI Act, becoming one of the first EU member states to establish a comprehensive national governance framework for enforcing the regulation.

The legislation aims to promote the safe, trustworthy and human-centred use of AI while protecting fundamental rights and supporting innovation, entrepreneurship and economic competitiveness.

The draft law designates the Hellenic Data Protection Authority as the national market surveillance authority and national contact point under the AI Act, while assigning the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission as the notifying authority.

It also establishes an Artificial Intelligence Coordination and Know-how Centre to provide technical expertise to regulators, alongside a unified complaints mechanism and an administrative sanctions framework to support enforcement.

To encourage responsible innovation, the proposal introduces an AI regulatory sandbox, allowing startups and small and medium-sized enterprises to test AI applications under regulatory supervision.

The legislation also creates a Unified Registry of Public Artificial Intelligence Systems to strengthen transparency and accountability, while expanding the role of Greece’s AI Observatory in monitoring implementation of the National AI Strategy.

According to the Ministry of Digital Governance, the framework follows the AI Act’s risk-based approach by applying oversight measures proportionate to the risks posed by different AI systems.

The proposal builds on Greece’s broader AI strategy, including the creation of the Special Secretariat for Artificial Intelligence and Data Governance, with the aim of balancing innovation, economic development and the protection of fundamental rights.

Why does it matter?

Greece is positioning itself among the first EU member states to translate the AI Act into operational national institutions and enforcement mechanisms. By establishing supervisory authorities, a regulatory sandbox and governance structures ahead of key implementation deadlines, the country aims to provide greater legal certainty for businesses while supporting responsible AI innovation.

The legislation also illustrates how the AI Act will increasingly be implemented through national institutions rather than EU bodies alone. As other member states develop their own enforcement frameworks, differences in implementation could shape how consistently the regulation is applied across the European Union.

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UN leaders at WSIS Forum 2026 showcase coordinated push for inclusive and trusted digital transformation

WSIS+20 mandate puts cooperation at the centre

Leaders from across the United Nations system used the WSIS Forum 2026 to demonstrate how digital technologies and AI are already supporting sustainable development, while stressing that stronger cooperation will be essential to deliver on the renewed WSIS+20 mandate through 2035. The dialogue brought together heads and senior officials from more than a dozen UN agencies, highlighting a shared commitment to building inclusive, trusted, and people-centred digital transformation.

Opening the session, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin reminded participants that, despite two decades of progress, 2.2 billion people remain offline, underscoring the importance of continued cooperation across the UN system.

‘The past 20 years have proven that multistakeholder cooperation works,’ she said, describing the WSIS framework as a platform that continues to unite governments, civil society, academia, the private sector and international organisations around common digital goals.

She challenged the UN system to use technology not only to better serve member states but also to strengthen the organisation itself, arguing that digital transformation should support wider UN reform efforts.

Beyond connectivity: Trust, capacity and governance

A recurring theme throughout the first panel was that digital transformation extends far beyond expanding internet access.

Masahiko Metoki, Director General of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), argued that post offices remain essential digital access points, particularly in rural communities. While postal operators increasingly provide e-commerce, digital financial and government services, he noted that around 100,000 post offices worldwide still lack meaningful internet connectivity, limiting their ability to support local communities.

For WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, digital inclusion is inseparable from public health.

‘The digital divide is a health divide,’ he warned, arguing that countries lacking connectivity, digital skills and governance risk seeing inequalities widen as healthcare becomes increasingly digital.

He highlighted WHO initiatives, including the Global Digital Health Certification Network, which now supports more than 80 countries representing over two billion people, alongside efforts to develop ethical and trustworthy AI for health.

The importance of trustworthy data was echoed by Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), who argued that AI systems are only as reliable as the data underpinning them.

Pointing to WMO’s WIS2 open data platform, now connecting more than 90 countries, Saulo said international cooperation on data sharing remains the foundation for trustworthy AI applications, particularly in weather forecasting and disaster resilience.

‘Weather data is a global public good,’ she said, adding that ‘trustworthy AI does not begin with algorithms but with open data.’

Making digital transformation meaningful

Several speakers argued that connectivity alone is no longer sufficient.

Pedro Manuel Moreno, Acting Secretary-General of UNCTAD, said the real question is whether digital technologies create economic opportunity.

‘The phone in your pocket can either entertain or employ,’ he observed, noting that many people in developing countries primarily use digital devices for social media rather than productive economic activities.

He pointed to UNCTAD’s eTrade for All initiative, which now includes 35 partner organisations, helping developing countries strengthen payments, logistics, legal frameworks and digital entrepreneurship.

Meanwhile, Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, Executive Director of UNITAR, introduced the concept of a growing ‘capacity divide’, arguing that countries increasingly need leadership, institutions and policy expertise, not just technology, to benefit from digital transformation.

UNITAR now reaches nearly 600,000 learners across 105 countries annually through executive education, AI governance training and digital capacity-building programmes.

Adding a social perspective, Magdalena Sepúlveda of the UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) argued that AI should ultimately be judged by its contribution to society rather than its technical capabilities.

‘Social justice cannot be an afterthought,’ she said, insisting that questions of who benefits, and who risks being left behind, must remain central to AI governance.

From strategy to implementation

The second panel shifted from high-level principles to practical implementation across the UN system.

UNESCO Assistant Director-General Mariya Gabriel highlighted the organisation’s work on AI governance and public-sector capacity-building, noting that more than 35,000 civil servants have completed UNESCO’s AI and Digital Transformation in Government programme.

UNICEF Chief Information Officer Kaan Cetinturk presented Ahead of the Storm, an AI-powered initiative that combines climate forecasts with vulnerability data to help governments better protect the 1.1 billion children exposed to climate hazards by enabling earlier humanitarian action.

Child protection also featured prominently in UNICRI’s presentation. Irakli Beridze, Head of the Centre for AI and Robotics, described the AI for Safer Children initiative, which has trained more than 3,500 law enforcement officers from 60 countries and contributed to rescuing over 100 children and arresting more than 250 offenders involved in online child exploitation.

Other agencies highlighted practical digital innovations already being deployed across the UN system.

The UN Joint Staff Pension Fund presented its digital identity solution, which enables more than 80,000 pensioners across 192 countries to verify their identities remotely, while UNICC showcased shared AI infrastructure designed to help UN agencies safely deploy AI applications in line with common governance standards.

UNOPS demonstrated shared procurement and grant management platforms used across multiple UN agencies, while UNDP outlined how digital transformation has been embedded across its new strategic plan as a cross-cutting accelerator for development.

A shared agenda for the next decade

Despite representing organisations with different mandates, speakers consistently converged around several common priorities.

Trustworthy AI, high-quality data, digital skills, human rights, and stronger institutional cooperation were repeatedly identified as prerequisites for responsible digital transformation. Capacity building emerged as equally important as connectivity, while many participants stressed that digital inclusion must ultimately be measured by improvements in people’s lives rather than technology deployment alone.

Closing the dialogue, Bogdan-Martin said trust had become the common thread linking all contributions, from health and climate to trade, education and public services.

‘The UN system succeeds when we work together,’ she said, describing the WSIS process as proof that coordinated multistakeholder cooperation remains one of the strongest foundations for advancing digital development worldwide.

Track all key moments from the WSIS Forum 2026 on our dedicated WSIS page.

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Africa urged to turn WSIS+20 commitments into measurable digital progress

African policymakers, civil society leaders, academics, and technology experts used a WSIS Forum 2026 session to argue that the continent already has the strategies needed for digital transformation but now faces a more pressing challenge: implementation. Organised by the Africa ICT Alliance (AFICTA) and Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the discussion focused on how the WSIS+20 outcome document can help translate global digital commitments into practical action across Africa.

Speakers repeatedly stressed that digital transformation requires more than policy declarations. They called for coordinated investment, stronger digital infrastructure, measurable outcomes, and greater collaboration among governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society. Throughout the session, participants returned to a common message that Africa’s digital future will depend not on adopting more strategies, but on delivering tangible results.

From commitments to implementation

Afework Temtime, of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), argued that Africa does not suffer from a lack of digital frameworks, but from the absence of coordinated implementation.

‘Africa needs an implementation roadmap, not another declaration,’ he said while presenting UNECA’s Africa 2035 Digital Implementation Roadmap, which translates the WSIS+20 outcome document into nine thematic pillars tailored to the continent’s priorities.

The roadmap identifies major obstacles to digital transformation, including limited connectivity, financing shortages, digital skills gaps, weak regulatory harmonisation, data governance challenges, and insufficient institutional coordination. It also proposes policy actions to address these issues while aligning national efforts with broader initiatives such as the Global Digital Compact and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Temtime also emphasised that implementation requires accountability. UNECA has proposed a set of 15 priority indicators, along with a unified reporting template, to help African countries measure progress consistently and reduce overlapping reporting obligations.

‘Measurement is the bridge between political commitments and delivery,’ he said, arguing that comparable data will enable governments to identify gaps, learn from one another, and adjust policies more effectively.

Nigeria highlights national reforms

Representing NITDA, Acting Director-General Dr Dimie Shively Wariowei outlined Nigeria’s efforts to implement the WSIS+20 agenda through national reforms and capacity-building initiatives.

He noted that the ICT sector now contributes between 13% and 14% of Nigeria’s GDP and highlighted several recent initiatives, including reforms to the National Identity Management Act, broader digital government reforms, and the 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme, which aims to train three million people in emerging digital technologies by 2027.

Wariowei also pointed to Nigeria’s leadership role in the Digital Economy Accelerator Programme (DEAP), which seeks to coordinate digital transformation efforts across Africa through regional cooperation.

Despite this progress, he acknowledged that many countries continue to face persistent challenges, including infrastructure deficits, financing gaps, unequal digital access, gender disparities, and limited digital literacy.

Measuring outcomes instead of activity

One of the strongest recurring themes was the need to shift from measuring activities to measuring impact.

Christiana Onoja, co-founder and CEO of SheCode.ai, argued that Africa has no shortage of digital ambition, but lacks three critical ingredients: accessible computing infrastructure, locally developed AI, and reliable measurement of progress.

She highlighted the scale of the continent’s infrastructure gap, noting that Africa hosts only 0.6% of global data centre capacity and roughly 0.2% of global AI computing resources, leaving researchers waiting days to access computing resources that are available within minutes elsewhere.

‘This is not just an infrastructure problem,’ she argued. ‘It is a question of power.’

Onoja also warned that language inclusion remains a major challenge. Although Africa is home to more than 2,000 languages, only a small fraction are meaningfully represented in today’s leading AI models.

‘When AI enters hospitals, schools and public services, this becomes a question of trust, inclusion and safety,’ she said, calling for greater investment in African-language AI models alongside sovereign computing infrastructure.

To strengthen accountability, Onoja proposed creating a WSIS Implementation Maturity Index covering all 11 WSIS Action Lines, allowing governments to measure outcomes rather than simply counting workshops, policies, or declarations.

Digital inclusion must reach underserved communities

Civil society representatives argued that digital transformation will remain incomplete unless it addresses structural inequalities, particularly those faced by women and rural communities.

Martha Alade, President of Women in Technology in Nigeria (WITIN), said her organisation has reached more than 1.25 million beneficiaries through community-based STEM education programmes across Nigeria, including conflict-affected regions.

However, she stressed that digital inclusion requires more than training.

‘No amount of training can compensate for exclusion from foundational digital infrastructure,’ she said, calling for greater access to digital identity systems, affordable internet connectivity, financial services, and coordinated partnerships across sectors.

Alade also argued that education systems should place greater emphasis on problem-solving rather than memorisation and urged governments to collect disaggregated data capable of measuring genuine transformation rather than simply recording participation.

Evangeline Iwenjiora of the Ivyline Care Foundation echoed these concerns, emphasising that women in rural communities remain excluded by poor connectivity and unreliable electricity.

She argued that educating women creates benefits that extend throughout families and communities, making inclusive digital literacy programmes a key investment for long-term development.

Universities need stronger industry links

Professor Abayomi Jegede highlighted progress within Nigeria’s higher education sector, including curriculum reforms that have expanded specialised programmes in AI, cybersecurity, data science, and related disciplines.

Yet he warned that universities continue to face significant barriers.

Many institutions still lack access to advanced computing infrastructure such as GPUs, academic staff often possess strong theoretical knowledge but limited practical experience, and collaboration between universities and industry remains insufficient.

Jegede also identified brain drain as a major challenge, with many of Africa’s most talented graduates and researchers leaving for opportunities abroad.

He called for stronger partnerships between universities and industry, including practical placements that would allow academics to gain hands-on experience before returning to teach students.

Collaboration as the path forward

Despite highlighting numerous challenges, speakers remained optimistic that Africa possesses the foundations needed to accelerate digital transformation.

Rather than calling for new strategies, participants consistently argued that success will depend on stronger implementation, better measurement, sustained investment, and genuine multistakeholder cooperation.

The session concluded with broad agreement that governments, technical experts, businesses, civil society organisations, and academic institutions must align their efforts around common priorities if the ambitions of the WSIS+20 outcome document are to translate into real improvements in connectivity, digital inclusion, AI capacity, and economic development across the continent.

Track all key moments from the WSIS Forum 2026 on our dedicated WSIS page.

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Experts at WSIS Forum 2026 call for rethinking education in the AI era

AI is forcing educators to rethink not only how students learn but also what skills matter most in the digital age, speakers concluded during a WSIS Forum 2026 session on the future of education. Participants from academia, international organisations, aviation, and student communities agreed that while AI can enhance learning, it cannot replace the human qualities that underpin creativity, critical thinking, and meaningful knowledge creation.

Moderated by Hao Liu, the discussion explored how education systems should evolve as AI becomes increasingly integrated into classrooms and workplaces, drawing on both European and Chinese perspectives on learning.

Storytelling and apprenticeship remain at the heart of learning

Opening the discussion, Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director of Diplo, argued that human learning has historically relied on two fundamental methods, which are apprenticeship, learning by observing others, and storytelling, through which people construct and communicate knowledge.

While AI has the potential to strengthen apprenticeship by supporting practical learning, he warned that it increasingly threatens storytelling. With tools such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek capable of producing polished essays in minutes, students may bypass the intellectual process of organising ideas, building arguments, and developing their own voice.

‘The question is not whether AI can write an essay,’ Kurbalija suggested. ‘The question is whether we still value the human process of creating one.’

Responding from a Chinese perspective, Hao Liu noted that storytelling has long played a central role in Chinese history as well, helping leaders inspire people and build shared visions. That motivational power, he argued, cannot simply be generated by AI.

Universities should focus on asking better questions

Hong Guan, from the School of Global Governance at Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), presented a framework of five ‘meta-capabilities’ that universities should prioritise in the AI era: learning agility, execution capability, communication skills, leadership potential, and critical judgement.

Rather than competing with AI in delivering information, universities should concentrate on helping students evaluate information, solve complex problems, and make sound decisions.

‘AI shouldn’t replace education,’ she said. ‘AI should push us to make education better.’

Guan also described how BIT increasingly relies on oral examinations and project-based learning rather than traditional written exams, making it much harder for students to rely exclusively on AI-generated answers.

Students warn of growing dependence on AI

Some of the session’s strongest interventions came from students themselves.

A Stanford University student described classmates uploading entire textbooks into AI systems shortly before exams, achieving excellent grades while retaining little of what they had supposedly learned.

‘What’s the point of being in school if you’re just going to do this?’ she asked.

More fundamentally, she questioned how future scientific discoveries would emerge if students increasingly relied on AI-generated summaries instead of developing original understanding.

Another student highlighted a different concern, that AI often provides answers that appear convincing even when users lack sufficient background knowledge to evaluate them critically. Instead of accepting AI outputs at face value, students should first clarify what they do not understand and develop questions before turning to AI for assistance.

Several speakers agreed that prompting AI effectively has itself become an important communication skill, but stressed that good prompts cannot substitute for genuine understanding.

Critical thinking becomes more valuable as information becomes cheaper

Drawing on her experience leading digital innovation initiatives at UNIDO, Ana Paula argued that AI is changing the value of human skills rather than eliminating them.

As information becomes abundant and inexpensive through AI, the ability to evaluate competing sources, exercise judgement, and adapt continuously becomes increasingly valuable.

‘Critical thinking is coming at a premium because information is now cheap,’ she observed.

She also challenged the widespread assumption that adaptability is an innate personal characteristic, arguing instead that it can be deliberately developed through continuous learning.

From the aviation sector, former ICAO officials Catalin Radu and Nabil Naoumi echoed the importance of embracing AI while maintaining human oversight. Both described AI as an indispensable professional tool capable of improving productivity, drafting documents, and supporting complex operational decisions, but insisted that human vision, responsibility, and face-to-face collaboration remain irreplaceable.

Humanity’s strengths cannot be automated

Closing the discussion, speakers shifted from practical education reform towards broader philosophical questions about humanity’s role in an AI-driven world.

Maricela Muñoz argued that curiosity, compassion, creativity, and ingenuity remain uniquely human qualities that should anchor education and professional development. Technology, she said, should free people from routine work rather than diminish opportunities for reflection and innovation.

Kurbalija concluded by describing AI as ‘a mirror’ that reveals what makes people uniquely human. Drawing on philosophical and religious traditions from around the world, he argued that education should not aim to optimise students into machine-like efficiency but instead preserve the human capacity for imperfection, reflection, and independent thought.

Across the discussion, speakers reached broad agreement that AI will continue transforming education, but its success will ultimately depend on whether schools and universities place greater emphasis on critical thinking, storytelling, adaptability, and lifelong learning, skills that remain fundamentally human despite rapid advances in AI.

Track all key moments from the WSIS Forum 2026 on our dedicated WSIS page.

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Canada and South Korea strengthen AI safety cooperation through new agreement

Canada and the Republic of Korea have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between their respective Artificial Intelligence Safety Institutes (AISIs) to strengthen cooperation on AI safety and the governance of frontier AI systems.

The agreement aims to deepen collaboration on AI risk assessment, evaluation methodologies, measurement science and the development of internationally interoperable safety standards for frontier AI.

The partnership establishes a framework for exchanging information on AI technologies, emerging risks, testing methodologies, evaluation tools and governance approaches. The two institutes will also work together to advance internationally recognised methods for evaluating frontier AI models while identifying new areas for cooperation.

A key element of the agreement focuses on risks associated with synthetic and AI-generated content.

Canada and South Korea will explore technical safeguards, oversight mechanisms and risk management approaches to strengthen AI testing throughout the model lifecycle, from development to deployment.

The agreement also reinforces both countries’ commitment to responsible AI innovation. Canadian Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon highlighted South Korea’s leadership in semiconductors, digital innovation and AI, stressing the importance of developing trustworthy AI while protecting society from emerging risks.

South Korea AISI Executive Director Myuhng-Joo Kim described AI safety as a global challenge that requires international cooperation and harmonised evaluation methodologies.

Why does it matter?

The agreement reflects a growing international shift towards cooperative AI safety governance rather than isolated national approaches. By aligning evaluation methods, testing frameworks and safety standards, Canada and South Korea aim to improve interoperability between AI governance systems while supporting responsible innovation.

The emphasis on synthetic AI-generated content also illustrates how governments are moving beyond broad AI principles to address specific technical risks. As more countries establish AI Safety Institutes, bilateral partnerships like this could help shape emerging international norms for evaluating and governing frontier AI models.

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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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Turin forum explores AI for crisis management

Experts at the Accademia delle Scienze di Torino discussed how AI could strengthen crisis and emergency management while warning that its deployment raises challenges around data quality, public trust, human oversight and digital sovereignty.

The discussion framed AI in crisis management as a governance challenge rather than simply a technical opportunity. Speakers examined issues including data quality, AI testing, digital sovereignty, misinformation, education and skills shortages.

Participants agreed that evaluating AI during real-world emergencies remains difficult because every crisis is unique and reliable benchmarks are hard to establish. Several speakers argued that effective deployment will depend on public trust, digital literacy and clear accountability.

Professor Tina Comes, who led the SAPEA Working Group behind the evidence review, cautioned against treating AI as a universal solution. She said AI systems depend heavily on the quality and availability of data and may struggle when confronted with situations that differ from their training data or previous operational experience.

Comes also warned against excessive reliance on AI during emergencies. Referring to the ‘Goldilocks dilemma’, she argued that authorities need to use AI effectively without allowing it to weaken human expertise. She called for stronger data preparedness, harmonised standards, training, strategic autonomy and human-centred AI.

Professor Rémy Slama, representing the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, said crisis situations involve uncertainty, time pressure, sensitive data and complex coordination. He argued that decisions about AI in crisis management cannot be treated as purely technical, particularly where accountability, democratic participation and meaningful human oversight are concerned.

Speakers also discussed practical uses of AI in emergency response. Professor Piero Boccardo of the Polytechnic University of Turin demonstrated how AI is transforming the use of Earth observation data through foundation models and AI agents that enable emergency responders to analyse satellite imagery using natural language.

Dr Thomas Kox of the Weizenbaum Institute presented findings from a survey of around 90 international weather experts. Respondents expected AI to improve warning systems but also expressed concerns about reduced human involvement, growing private-sector influence and potential conflicts between AI-generated information and official public messaging.

Professor Emilija Stojmenova, Slovenia’s former Minister of Digital Transformation, focused on misinformation during crises. She said AI can accelerate the spread of false information but can also help identify reliable information and support life-saving interventions when deployed responsibly.

The panel discussion covered data quality, AI testing, digital sovereignty, misinformation, education and skills shortages. Participants agreed that testing AI tools in real-world emergencies remains difficult because each crisis is different and reliable benchmarks are hard to establish.

Why does it matter?

AI has the potential to improve emergency warnings, satellite analysis and crisis coordination, but its effectiveness depends on high-quality data, human oversight and public trust. The Turin discussion highlighted that successful AI deployment in emergencies requires governance, preparedness and accountability alongside technical capability.

The debate also reflects a broader shift in AI governance, with crisis management increasingly viewed as a public policy challenge involving digital sovereignty, misinformation, resilience and institutional capacity rather than simply the adoption of new technology.

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Australia warns of unexpected AI behaviour during safety testing

Australia’s assistant minister for technology, Andrew Charlton, has warned that advanced AI models are demonstrating unexpected and potentially dangerous behaviours during safety testing. Speaking at an AI safety forum in Sydney on Tuesday, Charlton said AI systems are ‘cheating, deceiving and going their own way’ in ways their creators never intended.

Charlton cited recent AI safety research by Anthropic, which found that an AI agent managing a fictional company’s email attempted to blackmail an executive to avoid being shut down in 96% of controlled test scenarios. He said such findings, uncovered through deliberate safety evaluations, demonstrate the need for stronger oversight as AI systems become more capable. Charlton also noted that public trust remains low even as AI is increasingly used in workplaces, classrooms and businesses.

Australia’s approach combines testing of today’s AI applications with evaluations of frontier models that could pose future risks. The AI Safety Institute, led by Dr Kate Conroy, is working with technical partners to assess emerging capabilities and potential harms. Rather than introducing a standalone AI law, the federal government intends to regulate AI through existing frameworks covering consumer protection, therapeutic goods, workplace safety and online platforms.

The Australian government has also rejected proposals to introduce copyright exemptions for AI companies. Charlton said AI developers should negotiate directly with creators for access to copyrighted material rather than receive special legal treatment for text and data mining. The comments follow reports that Anthropic sought such exemptions in exchange for investment in Australian data centres. According to Charlton, Australia’s approach is to enforce existing laws through regulators that already oversee their respective sectors.

Why does it matter?

Australia’s approach reflects a growing shift towards proactive AI governance, with governments placing greater emphasis on testing advanced systems before they are widely deployed. Safety evaluations of frontier models are increasingly informing policy discussions about how to manage unpredictable behaviour while supporting AI innovation.

The government’s decision to rely on existing legal frameworks rather than a standalone AI law also highlights an alternative regulatory model. Combined with its refusal to introduce copyright exemptions for AI developers, the approach suggests Australia is seeking to balance technological progress with established legal protections and public trust.

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