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Education for Countries programme signals OpenAI push into public education policy

OpenAI has launched the Education for Countries programme, a new global initiative designed to support governments in modernising education systems and preparing workforces for an AI-driven economy.

The programme responds to a widening gap between rapid advances in AI capabilities and people’s ability to use them effectively in everyday learning and work.

Education systems are positioned at the centre of closing that gap, as research suggests a significant share of core workplace skills will change by the end of the decade.

By integrating AI tools, training and research into schools and universities, national education frameworks can evolve alongside technological change and better equip students for future labour markets.

The programme combines access to tools such as ChatGPT Edu and advanced language models with large-scale research on learning outcomes, tailored national training schemes and internationally recognised certifications.

A global network of governments, universities and education leaders will also share best practices and shape responsible approaches to AI use in classrooms.

Initial partners include Estonia, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Trinidad and Tobago and the United Arab Emirates. Early national rollouts, particularly in Estonia, already involve tens of thousands of students and educators, with further countries expected to join later in 2026.

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WEF paper warns of widening AI investment gap

Policy-makers are being urged to take a more targeted approach to ‘sovereign AI’ spending, as a new paper released alongside the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos argues that no country can realistically build every part of the AI stack alone. Instead, the authors recommend treating AI sovereignty as ‘strategic interdependence’, combining selective domestic investment with trusted partnerships and alliances.

The paper, co-authored by the World Economic Forum and Bain & Co, highlights how heavily the United States and China dominate the global AI landscape. It estimates that the two countries capture around 65% of worldwide investment across the AI value chain, reflecting a full-stack model, from chips and cloud infrastructure to applications, that most other economies cannot match at the same scale.

For smaller and mid-sized economies, that imbalance can translate into a competitive disadvantage, because AI infrastructure, such as data centres and computing capacity, is increasingly viewed as the backbone of national AI capability. Still, the report argues that faster-moving countries can carve out a niche by focusing on a few priority areas, pooling regional capacity, or securing access through partnerships rather than trying to replicate the US-China approach.

The message was echoed in Davos by Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, who said every country should treat AI as essential infrastructure, comparable to electricity grids and transport networks. He argued that building AI data centres could drive demand for well-paid skilled trades, from electricians and plumbers to network engineers, framing the boom as a major job creator rather than a trigger for widespread job losses.

At the same time, the paper warns that physical constraints could slow expansion, including the availability of land, energy and water, as well as shortages of highly skilled workers. It also notes that local regulation can delay projects, although some industry groups argue that regulatory and cost pressures may push countries to innovate sooner in efficiency and greener data-centre design.

In the UK, industry body UKAI says high energy prices, limited grid capacity, complex planning rules and public scrutiny already create the same hurdles many other countries may soon face. It argues these constraints are helping drive improvements in efficiency, system design and coordination, seen as building blocks for more sustainable AI infrastructure.

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

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Tata’s $11 billion Innovation City plan gains global visibility at Davos

Tata Sons plans to invest $11 billion to build a large ‘Innovation City’ near the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, according to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. He said the project has drawn strong interest from international investors and will include major infrastructure upgrades alongside a data centre.

Fadnavis said the aim is to turn Mumbai and its wider region into a global, ‘plug-and-play’ innovation hub where companies can quickly set up and scale new technologies. He described the initiative as the first of its kind in India and said work is expected to begin within six to eight months.

The location next to the Adani Group–developed Navi Mumbai Airport is being positioned as an advantage, linking global connectivity with the high-tech industry. The project also reflects a broader global rush to expand data centres as companies roll out AI services, with firms such as Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon investing heavily in new capacity worldwide.

Maharashtra, which contributes more than 10 percent of India’s GDP and hosts the country’s financial capital, is also pushing a wider infrastructure drive, including a $30 billion plan to upgrade Mumbai. State leaders have framed these investments as part of an effort to boost growth and respond to economic pressures, including unemployment.

The Innovation City is expected to support India’s ambitions in AI and semiconductors, with national officials pointing to a public-private partnership approach rather than leaving development solely to big tech companies. Alongside this, the state is exploring energy innovation, including potential collaborations on small modular nuclear reactors, following recent legislative support for smaller-scale nuclear projects.

Taken together, the plan is being presented as a bid to attract global investment, accelerate high-tech development, and strengthen India’s role in emerging industrial and technology shifts centred on AI, advanced manufacturing, and digital infrastructure.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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AI expands healthcare access in Africa

Health care in Africa is set to benefit from AI through a new initiative by the Gates Foundation and OpenAI. Horizon1000 aims to expand AI-powered support across 1,000 primary care clinics in Rwanda by 2028.

Severe shortages of health workers in Sub-Saharan Africa have limited access to quality care, with the region facing a shortfall of nearly six million professionals. AI tools will assist doctors and nurses by handling administrative tasks and providing clinical guidance.

Rwanda has launched an AI Health Intelligence Centre to utilise limited resources better and improve patient outcomes. The initiative will deploy AI in communities and homes, ensuring support reaches beyond clinic walls.

Experts believe AI represents a major medical breakthrough, comparable to vaccines and antibiotics. By helping health workers focus on patient care, the technology could reduce preventable deaths and transform health systems across low- and middle-income countries.

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Advanced Linux malware framework VoidLink likely built with AI

Security researchers from Check Point have uncovered VoidLink. This advanced and modular Linux malware framework has been developed predominantly with AI assistance, likely by a single individual rather than a well-resourced threat group.

VoidLink’s development process, exposed due to the developer’s operational security (OPSEC) failures, indicates that AI models were used not just for parts of the code but to orchestrate the entire project plan, documentation and implementation.

According to analysts, the malware framework reached a functional state in under a week with more than 88,000 lines of code, compressing what would traditionally take weeks or months into days.

While no confirmed in-the-wild attacks have yet been reported, researchers caution that the advent of AI-assisted malware represents a significant cybersecurity shift, lowering the barrier to creating sophisticated threats and potentially enabling widespread future misuse.

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AI becomes mainstream in UK auto buying behaviour, survey shows

A recent survey reported by AM-Online reveals that approximately 66 per cent of UK car buyers use artificial intelligence in some form as part of their vehicle research and buying process.

AI applications cited include chatbots for questions and comparisons, recommendation systems for model selection, and virtual advisors that help consumers weigh options based on preferences and budget.

Industry commentators suggest that this growing adoption reflects broader digital transformation trends in automotive retail, with dealerships and manufacturers increasingly deploying AI technologies to personalise sales experiences, streamline research and nurture leads.

The integration of AI tools is seen as boosting customer engagement and efficiency, but it also raises questions about privacy and data protection, transparency and the future role of human sales advisors as digital tools become more capable.

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Enterprise voice AI reaches new benchmark in India’s first live unscripted TV debate

Blue Machines AI set a new benchmark for enterprise voice AI by taking part in a 60-minute, live, unscripted debate on Indian national television. Aired in a single take, the broadcast tested whether voice AI could perform reliably under real-world pressure and national scrutiny.

During the debate, the system demonstrated enterprise-grade reliability and strong governance. It maintained contextual continuity, ultra-low latency, and disciplined responses while managing interruptions and rapid topic shifts, without producing speculative or unsafe outputs.

The discussion spanned complex and sensitive issues, including geopolitics, national security, AI ethics, trade policy, and India’s deep-technology ambitions. Performance across such a broad range of topics highlighted the system’s maturity and its ability to operate in unpredictable conversational environments.

Observers noted that such performance signals readiness for deployment in high-stakes sectors such as banking, insurance, aviation, and large digital platforms. The event also highlighted the strength of India’s deep-tech engineering ecosystem, marking a shift of voice AI from novelty to stable, governed, and scalable application.

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Amazon One Medical launches health AI assistant

One Medical has launched a Health AI assistant in its mobile app, offering personalised health guidance at any time. The tool uses verified medical records to support everyday healthcare decisions.

Patients can use the assistant to explain lab results, manage prescriptions, and book virtual or in-person appointments. Clinical safeguards ensure users are referred to human clinicians when medical judgement is required.

Powered by Amazon Bedrock, the assistant operates under HIPAA-compliant privacy standards and avoids selling personal health data. Amazon says clinician and member feedback will shape future updates.

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Kashi Vishwanath Temple launches AI chatbot

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple in India has launched an AI-powered chatbot to help devotees access services from anywhere in the world. The tool provides quick information on rituals, bookings, and temple timings.

Devotees can now book darshan, special aartis, and order prasad online. The chatbot also guides pilgrims on guesthouse availability and directions around Varanasi.

Supporting Hindi, English, and regional languages, the AI ensures smooth communication for global visitors. The initiative aims to simplify temple visits, especially during festivals and crowded periods.

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