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EU Commission reviews Android DMA rules on interoperability

The European Commission is consulting third parties on proposed measures requiring Alphabet to ensure effective interoperability between Google Android and AI services under the Digital Markets Act.

The draft measures focus on AI services’ access to key Android capabilities, including wake-word activation, contextual data, integration with applications, and access to hardware and software resources needed for reliable and responsive services.

The Commission opened proceedings in January 2026 to specify how Alphabet should comply with DMA interoperability obligations for features relevant to AI services. Its proposed measures cover invocation, context, actions on apps and the operating system, access to resources, and general requirements such as free access, documented frameworks and APIs, technical assistance and reporting.

Stakeholders were asked to comment on the effectiveness, completeness, feasibility and implementation timelines of the proposed measures, particularly from the perspective of AI service providers and Android device manufacturers.

Input from Alphabet and interested third parties may lead to adjustments before the Commission adopts a final decision-making the measures legally binding. The Commission is expected to adopt that decision by 27 July 2026.

Why does it matter?

The case shows how the DMA is being applied to the emerging competitive landscape for AI assistants and mobile operating systems. If third-party AI services need access to Android features such as wake words, contextual data, app actions and on-device resources to compete effectively, interoperability rules could shape which AI tools reach users and how much control gatekeepers retain over mobile AI ecosystems.

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Anthropic launches Claude Platform on AWS with managed AI agent tools

Anthropic has made Claude Platform on AWS generally available, giving AWS customers access to Claude Platform features through AWS authentication, billing and infrastructure integrations.

The platform includes Claude Managed Agents, code execution, web search, web fetch, prompt caching, batch processing, citations, support for the Files API, and support for Skills and MCP connectors. Anthropic said new Claude models and beta tools will become available on AWS at the same time they launch on the native Claude API.

Authentication runs through AWS Identity and Access Management, while audit logging is handled through AWS CloudTrail and billing through a single AWS invoice. Anthropic said the service is designed for organisations seeking native Claude Platform functionality while staying within existing AWS credentials, permissions and operational workflows.

The company also clarified the distinction between Claude Platform on AWS and Claude on Amazon Bedrock. Under the new platform, Anthropic operates the service and data is processed outside the AWS boundary.

By contrast, Claude on Amazon Bedrock keeps AWS as the data processor and operates within the AWS boundary, making it more suitable for customers with strict regional data residency requirements or those needing data processed exclusively within AWS infrastructure.

Why does it matter?

The launch shows how competition between major AI providers is shifting towards enterprise deployment, cloud integration and agent-based automation. For organisations, the choice is no longer only about model performance, but also about where data is processed, how access is controlled, how audit logs are handled and whether AI agents can be deployed within existing cloud governance systems.

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Singapore cooperation with Japan targets AI in patent examination

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore and the Japan Patent Office have announced a new cooperation initiative on the use of AI in patent substantive examination, as patent offices adapt to rapid technological change.

The initiative was announced after a bilateral meeting in Singapore between IPOS Chief Executive Tan Kong Hwee and JPO Commissioner Yasuyuki Kasai. It builds on a Memorandum of Cooperation signed in Tokyo last November.

Under the initiative, IPOS and JPO will launch a bilateral patent examiner exchange programme and hold regular technical exchanges on the use of AI in patent examination. The two offices said the cooperation is intended to strengthen capabilities, share best practices and develop robust processes for high-quality and trusted patent examination.

Tan said AI is reshaping innovation and work processes, making it necessary for IP offices to evolve while maintaining examination quality and trust. Kasai said the cooperation would bring together the experience and expertise of both offices and support innovation in both countries.

The cooperation will also cover patent search and examination quality management, benchmarking of examination practices, IT infrastructure development, operational management and IP policy exchanges. Both offices will also coordinate initiatives to support enterprises, including SMEs, and strengthen trade and IP flows between Singapore and Japan.

IPOS and JPO said the partnership reflects their shared commitment to addressing emerging challenges in the intellectual property landscape and keeping innovation ecosystems trusted, efficient and future-ready.

Why does it matter?

Patent offices are increasingly facing pressure to handle more complex applications while maintaining examination quality, consistency and trust. Cooperation between Singapore and Japan on AI-assisted examination shows how intellectual property authorities are beginning to adapt their own administrative systems to AI, not only to regulate AI-related inventions.

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New IRIS report links AI narratives to civic action

A report by International Resource for Impact and Storytelling examines how organisations worldwide are adapting to AI and algorithm-driven platforms. It focuses on how technology and storytelling are being used to support democracy and counter harmful narratives.

The study draws on insights from 10 organisations, identifying key approaches such as co-opting technology, countering surveillance and disinformation, and innovating in storytelling. These strategies aim to reshape narratives and challenge authoritarian pressures.

Examples include campaigns addressing digital surveillance, projects using journalism to amplify marginalised voices, and creative approaches to civic engagement. The report also highlights the role of artists and storytellers in influencing how AI is understood.

The findings highlight the growing importance of narrative and culture in the digital landscape, as organisations experiment with new forms of communication and resistance. The research reflects global efforts to align AI with democratic values.

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Council of the EU pushes for human-centred AI in education systems

The Council of the European Union has approved conclusions calling for an ethical, safe and human-centred approach to AI in education, stressing that teachers should remain at the heart of the learning process as AI tools become more widely used across schools and universities.

The Council said the conclusions focus on strengthening digital skills and AI literacy, guaranteeing inclusion and fairness, empowering teachers, and supporting the well-being of both teachers and learners. It also noted that the relationship between AI and teaching is being addressed for the first time in the EU education policy.

The EU ministers highlighted both the opportunities and risks associated with AI-driven education systems. The Council said AI could improve accessibility, support disadvantaged learners, enable more individualised teaching and assessment methods, and reduce administrative workloads for educators.

At the same time, the conclusions raise concerns about misinformation, algorithmic bias, over-reliance on technology, reduced teacher autonomy, data protection risks and the widening of digital inequalities across Europe. The Council also warned that AI could affect learners’ concentration and skill acquisition, while raising broader societal and environmental concerns.

The conclusions call on national governments to strengthen teachers’ AI and digital skills through training, while encouraging the development and use of education-specific AI tools that provide clear pedagogical value and align with data protection, accountability and risk-awareness requirements.

The Council also said teachers should have opportunities to contribute to the design and evaluation of AI tools used in education, reflecting a digital humanism approach focused on human agency and democratic values.

Member states are urged to ensure AI deployment does not undermine teachers’ autonomy or sustainable working conditions, and that digital tools remain accessible and suitable for all learners. The European Commission was encouraged to support international cooperation, research, ethical guidance, peer-to-peer exchanges and capacity-building as AI adoption accelerates across European education systems.

Why does it matter?

AI is moving into classrooms not only as a learning tool, but as part of how teaching, assessment, administration and student support are organised. The Council’s conclusions underline that education policy will need to address more than technical adoption, including teacher autonomy, digital inequality, learner well-being, data protection and the risk of over-reliance on automated systems.

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Google warns adversaries are industrialising AI-enabled cyberattacks

Google Threat Intelligence Group says cyber adversaries are moving from early AI experimentation towards the industrial-scale use of generative models across malicious workflows.

In a new report, GTIG says it has identified, for the first time, a threat actor using a zero-day exploit that it believes was developed with AI. The criminal actor had planned to use the exploit in a mass exploitation campaign involving a two-factor authentication bypass, but Google said its proactive discovery may have prevented the campaign from going ahead.

The findings describe several uses of AI in cyber operations. Threat actors linked to the People’s Republic of China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have used AI for vulnerability research, including persona-based prompting, specialised vulnerability datasets and automated analysis of vulnerabilities and proof-of-concept exploits.

Other actors have used AI-assisted coding to support defence evasion, including the development of obfuscation tools, relay infrastructure and malware containing AI-generated decoy logic. Google said these uses show how generative models can accelerate development cycles and make malicious tools harder to detect.

Google also highlights PROMPTSPY, an Android backdoor that uses Gemini API capabilities to interpret device interfaces, generate structured commands, simulate gestures and support more autonomous malware behaviour. The company said it had disabled assets linked to the activity and that no apps containing PROMPTSPY were found on Google Play at the time of its current detection.

AI systems are also becoming direct targets. Google says attackers are compromising AI software dependencies, open-source agent skills, API connectors and AI gateway tools such as LiteLLM. The report warns that such supply-chain attacks could expose API secrets, enable ransomware activity or allow intruders to use internal AI systems for reconnaissance, data theft and deeper network access.

Why does it matter?

Google’s findings suggest that AI-enabled cyber activity is moving beyond basic phishing support or faster research. Generative models are now being used in vulnerability discovery, exploit development, malware obfuscation, autonomous device interaction, information operations and attacks on AI infrastructure itself. That could make some attacks faster, more adaptive and harder to detect, while also turning AI platforms, integrations and supply chains into part of the cyberattack surface.

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UNESCO explores how AI and design can reshape culture and creativity

UNESCO’s Regional Office for East Asia has launched a global call for good practice cases on how AI and design are being used to support culture, creativity, education, sustainability and social inclusion.

The call invites submissions from organisations, institutions, practitioners, educators and innovators using AI together with design approaches to create positive outcomes in cultural and creative sectors. UNESCO says the initiative is looking for practical examples that support culture, creativity, livelihoods, learning, sustainability and social inclusion.

The call focuses on four thematic areas: cultural heritage protection, documentation and interpretation; cultural tourism and visitor experience design; fashion and creative industry innovation; and design education and capacity development.

Selected projects may receive UNESCO recognition, be included in a publication or catalogue, participate in exhibitions or showcases, receive invitations to talks or events, and gain visibility through UNESCO communication channels.

The initiative reflects growing international interest in how AI can support creative and cultural sectors beyond industrial productivity. UNESCO’s framing places design principles such as inclusion, accessibility, cultural relevance and people-centred use at the centre of responsible AI deployment in cultural and educational contexts.

Submissions are open until 15 June 2026, with selected cases scheduled to be announced on 15 July 2026. Applications may be submitted in English or Chinese and are expected to demonstrate practical examples of AI supporting learning, livelihoods, creativity or sustainable development through design-oriented approaches.

Why does it matter?

The call points to a wider effort to shape AI use in culture and creativity around public value rather than solely on automation. By focusing on heritage, tourism, fashion and design education, UNESCO is encouraging examples where AI supports local knowledge, creative livelihoods, cultural access and inclusive innovation.

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Canada invests in AI and quantum technology firms in British Columbia

Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan), announced more than C$17.3 million in funding for eight British Columbia technology companies to accelerate the commercialisation and adoption of AI and quantum technologies.

Through PacifiCan, the federal government is supporting projects focused on robotics, semiconductor manufacturing, AI infrastructure, and quantum supply chains as part of a broader strategy to strengthen domestic innovation and sovereign technology capabilities.

A major share of the investment will support Human in Motion Robotics, which received CAD$3 million to commercialise its AI-powered XoMotion wearable robotic exoskeleton. The company plans to integrate AI into mobility systems, expand manufacturing, and move the technology beyond clinical environments into homes and community settings for people with spinal cord injuries and neurological conditions.

Another funded company, Dream Photonics, will receive more than CAD$1.1 million to establish pilot manufacturing for optical interconnect technologies used in AI and quantum chips. The project aims to strengthen Canada’s domestic semiconductor and quantum ecosystem while creating skilled technology jobs in British Columbia.

The announcement also highlighted the rapid expansion of British Columbia’s AI ecosystem, which now includes nearly 600 AI companies. Canadian officials linked the investments to broader efforts to secure domestic compute infrastructure, strengthen AI supply chains, and position Canada competitively in emerging technologies ahead of events such as Web Summit Vancouver.

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Canada advances sovereign AI data centre strategy with TELUS

The Canadian government and TELUS are advancing plans to develop large-scale sovereign AI infrastructure as part of Ottawa’s broader strategy to strengthen domestic compute capacity and support the country’s AI ecosystem.

The initiative was announced by Evan Solomon (Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) and focuses on a proposed AI data centre project in British Columbia designed to support researchers, businesses, and academic institutions.

A project that forms part of Canada’s ‘Enabling large-scale sovereign AI data centres’ initiative, which was introduced under Budget 2025. Ottawa stated that sovereign compute infrastructure is increasingly important for maintaining national competitiveness in AI while ensuring Canadian data, intellectual property, and economic value remain within the country.

The government also confirmed that no formal funding commitments have yet been distributed, with discussions currently progressing through non-binding memoranda of understanding with selected industry participants.

Local officials argued that large-scale compute infrastructure has become a strategic economic requirement as governments worldwide race to expand AI processing capabilities. Canada believes it holds competitive advantages due to its colder climate, sustainable energy resources, and network infrastructure, all of which could help attract future AI investment and hyperscale data centre development.

Why does it matter?

The race for sovereign AI infrastructure is rapidly becoming one of the most important geopolitical and economic competitions of the digital era. The Canada-TELUS partnership illustrates how countries are moving beyond AI model development alone and shifting focus towards the physical infrastructure required to sustain future AI ecosystems, including data centres, energy capacity, semiconductors, and domestic compute networks.

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China launches AI ethics review pilot programme

A national pilot programme for AI ethics review and services has been launched by China, as authorities move to strengthen oversight of growing risks linked to advanced AI systems.

The initiative, announced by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, aims to establish practical mechanisms for AI ethics governance as concerns over algorithmic discrimination, emotional dependence, and broader societal risks continue to grow. Authorities said the initiative will initially operate in provincial-level regions hosting national AI industrial innovation pilot zones. It will focus on refining provincial AI ethics review rules, supporting the creation of ethics committees, and developing specialised ethics review and service centres. Chinese regulators also plan to transform the ethics review process into technical standards while improving mechanisms for reporting AI-related ethical concerns.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has also called for the creation of a national AI ethics risk monitoring service network, along with training materials, ethics education courses, and early-warning systems to support pilot cities.

By embedding ethics reviews into AI development and deployment processes, China appears to be building a more institutionalised framework for managing the societal and technological risks associated with increasingly powerful AI systems.

Why does it matter?

China’s latest move signals a shift from broad AI governance principles towards operational enforcement mechanisms embedded directly into regional innovation ecosystems. The programme could influence how other governments approach AI oversight, particularly as global concerns grow over algorithmic bias, psychological manipulation, and accountability in frontier AI systems.

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