ai Archives | Page 3 of 407 | Digital Watch Observatory

Rome Declaration calls for human control over AI and nuclear weapons

Nobel laureates, scientists, religious leaders and former heads of state and government have signed the Rome Declaration for an Unarmed and Disarming Peace in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Nuclear and Autonomous Weapons, New Digital Protocols, and Emerging Models of Digital Development.

The declaration was adopted on 16 July on Rome’s Capitoline Hill following the Global Nobel Laureates Assembly on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear War, hosted by the Vatican.

The declaration calls for renewed international cooperation to address the challenges posed by AI, nuclear weapons and other emerging technologies. It stresses that decisions concerning life and death, peace and war, and the future of humanity should remain under meaningful human control, while highlighting the importance of ensuring that technological progress is guided by ethics, responsibility and respect for human dignity.

The declaration concludes the Global Nobel Laureates Assembly, which brought together more than 200 participants from research institutions, international organisations and civil society. The organisers said the initiative seeks to encourage dialogue on the governance of AI, nuclear weapons and other technologies with significant implications for international peace and security.

Why does it matter?

The declaration reflects growing international efforts to address AI alongside nuclear risks and other emerging technologies through a common governance framework. It also adds to ongoing discussions about maintaining meaningful human control over decisions involving the use of force and other technologies with potentially existential consequences.

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

World AI Cooperation Organization established in Shanghai

Twenty-nine countries signed an agreement in Shanghai on 16 July establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), an independent intergovernmental international organisation that will be headquartered in Shanghai.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi signed the agreement on behalf of China, while representatives from countries including Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, Russia and Indonesia became founding members.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres attended the signing ceremony alongside representatives of other countries and international organisations.

According to the agreement, WAICO will uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, promote extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and follow a people-centred approach. Its stated objective is to strengthen international cooperation and global governance on AI while supporting the development of AI that is beneficial, safe and fair for humanity.

The establishment of WAICO follows China’s proposal last year to create a dedicated international organisation for AI cooperation. The organisation adds a new institutional forum to the evolving landscape of global AI governance, alongside existing multilateral and regional initiatives focused on AI policy and international cooperation.

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

Japan and NVIDIA launch national AI infrastructure

Japan is moving to build what NVIDIA describes as the world’s first national AI infrastructure for physical AI, in partnership with Noetra and supported by government and industry leaders.

The initiative is designed to strengthen Japan’s AI ecosystem across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, telecommunications and other industrial sectors.

Noetra will establish an NVIDIA Vera Rubin AI factory using 13,750 NVIDIA Vera CPUs and 27,500 NVIDIA Rubin GPUs.

NVIDIA said the facility will deliver 140 megawatts of data-centre capacity and will be based on its DSX platform.

The AI factory will support the development of open multimodal foundation models for AI agents, digital twins, robotics and other physical AI applications.

It will provide the computing foundation for Japan’s FRONTia Project, launched by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The project aims to combine Japan’s manufacturing expertise, real-world industrial data and international technology partnerships to develop reliable multimodal foundation models for robotics and physical AI.

Pretrained weights from Noetra’s multimodal foundation models will be made available to domestic model developers and enterprises, alongside NVIDIA software tools for agentic AI, robotics and model development.

NVIDIA said the infrastructure will support Japan’s wider AI robotics strategy, which aims to capture more than 30% of the global AI robotics market by 2040.

As the AI factory expands, it is expected to support trillion-parameter-scale model training and give organisations in Japan access to advanced AI computing capacity.

Why does it matter?

The initiative shows how national AI strategies are increasingly tied to compute infrastructure, industrial data and sector-specific foundation models. For Japan, physical AI connects AI policy with manufacturing, robotics, logistics and healthcare, areas where domestic expertise and trusted infrastructure could become strategic advantages. The project also highlights the growing role of private chip and platform providers in national AI capacity, raising longer-term questions about sovereignty, dependency and who controls the infrastructure behind industrial AI.

Claude for Teachers released for verified US educators

Anthropic has launched Claude for Teachers, offering verified K-12 educators in the US free access to premium Claude features, teaching skills and curriculum-aligned resources.

The product is designed to help teachers plan lessons, adapt materials, differentiate instruction and manage classroom workflows.

Claude for Teachers connects to Learning Commons, giving it access to academic standards across all 50 US states and related learning competencies.

Anthropic says the tool can use those standards to draft scaffolded lesson plans and student-facing materials based on widely used curricula, including OpenSciEd and Illustrative Mathematics.

Educators can also connect Claude with K-12 tools such as ASSISTments, Brisk Teaching, Canva Education, Coteach, Diffit, Eedi, MagicSchool, Snorkl and TeachFX.

The platform includes tailored teaching skills grounded in learning science, with use cases including standards-aligned lesson planning, differentiated materials and analysis of class data for instructional planning.

Anthropic says that Claude for Teachers is for educators only and complies with K-12 privacy requirements.

Data from the product will not be used for model training, and student information is covered by a K-12 Data Processing Addendum designed to comply with FERPA.

The company is also working with the American Federation of Teachers on safety and privacy principles for AI in education.

Verified educators can access Claude for Teachers free of charge if they sign up by 30 June 2027, with a dedicated version for schools and districts planned later.

Why does it matter?

Claude for Teachers shows how major AI companies are moving from general-purpose chatbots into specialised education tools with curriculum alignment, workflow integrations and sector-specific privacy commitments. The launch could support lesson planning and differentiated instruction. Still, it also raises familiar questions about student data, vendor dependence, AI quality, teacher autonomy and how schools evaluate the educational impact of AI tools before scaling them.

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

Illinois issues AI guidance for schools with AI-assisted drafting disclosed

The Illinois State Board of Education has published comprehensive guidance on the use of AI in schools, while also disclosing that the 409-page document was itself developed with assistance from multiple AI models alongside human review.

The guidance was prepared following legislation adopted in 2025, with contributions from education, technology and public policy experts. Initial drafts drew ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, while human reviewers edited, verified and refined the final document.

The board detailed how AI was used throughout the drafting process, including producing early text, verifying publicly available resources, creating graphics and improving clarity. It stressed that all AI-generated information was independently reviewed and verified before publication.

The guidance emphasises that AI should support teaching and learning rather than replace human relationships or educational experiences. It also offers practical recommendations for selecting AI tools and promoting responsible, ethical and transparent AI use in schools.

The guidance is intended to help Illinois schools navigate both the opportunities and risks associated with AI adoption in education.

Why does it matter?

The guidance offers schools a practical framework for integrating AI while addressing issues such as academic integrity, privacy, transparency and the reliability of AI-generated content. As more education systems adopt AI, common governance principles may help schools use the technology more consistently and responsibly.

The document is also notable for openly disclosing how AI contributed to its own development. By documenting where AI was used and emphasising independent human verification, the Illinois State Board of Education models a level of transparency that could influence how other public institutions develop AI-assisted policies and guidance.

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

South Korea showcases low-power AI networking technology

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT has showcased low-power AI networking technology to an international audience as part of efforts to promote more energy-efficient communications infrastructure.

According to the ministry, the demonstration formed part of broader efforts to showcase domestic advances in AI and communications technologies and strengthen international cooperation.

The ministry released few technical details about the technology, instead presenting it as an example of South Korea’s research and development capabilities in AI networking and next-generation communications infrastructure.

Why does it matter?

Reducing the energy required to run AI infrastructure is becoming increasingly important as AI workloads expand. More efficient networking technologies could help lower operating costs and support wider deployment of AI systems while reducing their environmental impact.

Although the ministry released few technical details, the announcement reflects South Korea’s continued investment in AI and advanced communications technologies as part of its broader strategy to strengthen technological competitiveness and international collaboration.

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

Canada invests CAD 13.9 million in Quebec AI projects

The Government of Canada has announced nearly CAD 13.9 million (approximately €8.8 million) in funding for 63 AI projects across Quebec under the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII), aiming to accelerate AI adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The funding will support projects focused on both developing AI technologies and integrating AI into existing business operations. The government said the initiative will help SMEs improve productivity, develop innovative solutions and strengthen regional economic growth.

According to the government, the programme is expected to support more than 1,700 jobs across Quebec while helping businesses innovate more quickly, improve operational efficiency and seize new commercial opportunities. The announcement was made by Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon on behalf of Industry Minister Mélanie Joly.

The investment forms part of Canada’s broader ‘AI for All’ strategy, launched in June 2026, which aims to expand access to AI, promote responsible adoption, strengthen domestic innovation and reinforce Canada’s digital sovereignty.

The Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative will continue operating in Quebec until March 2031. Canadian officials said the programme is intended to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems, expand AI capabilities among businesses and position Quebec as a leading centre for AI talent and technological development.

According to the government, combining responsible AI adoption with targeted regional investment will strengthen competitiveness while ensuring the benefits of AI are shared more broadly across businesses and communities.

Why does it matter?

The initiative reflects Canada’s growing focus on regional AI development rather than concentrating investment solely in major technology hubs. Supporting AI adoption among SMEs could help spread productivity gains more widely across the economy while strengthening local innovation ecosystems.

The programme also illustrates how industrial policy is becoming an important component of national AI strategies. By combining public funding, regional development and responsible AI governance, Canada is seeking to strengthen long-term competitiveness while reinforcing domestic technological capacity.

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

AI is reshaping physics but raising new questions

AI is becoming an increasingly important tool in physics, helping researchers analyse large datasets, accelerate simulations and identify patterns that may be difficult to detect through conventional methods.

A Physics World feature examines how machine learning is already embedded in particle physics, including work at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, where researchers have used AI techniques in Higgs boson analyses and searches for new physics.

Newer approaches are also being used to detect unexpected anomalies in collider data, potentially helping physicists look beyond predictions based on existing theories.

The growing use of AI has renewed concern about the so-called black-box problem, in which researchers cannot fully explain how a system reaches its conclusions.

Physicists interviewed in the article argue that reproducibility, verification and rigorous review remain central to trust, even when AI models are not fully interpretable.

Applications now extend beyond particle physics into materials science, where autonomous systems and robotic laboratories can design, test and refine new materials.

Such systems could increasingly help decide which experiments to perform, speeding up discovery while shifting scientists towards more supervisory and interpretive roles.

Researchers caution, however, that AI should remain a tool for scientific inquiry rather than a substitute for reasoning, curiosity and critical judgement.

Why does it matter?

AI is changing how scientific knowledge is produced. In physics, it can help researchers process data at scales humans cannot manage alone, improve simulations and suggest new experimental directions. That could accelerate discoveries with wider technological impact, from advanced materials to energy systems and medical technologies. Greater reliance on AI also raises governance questions inside science itself. If results depend on systems that are difficult to interpret, scientific communities need strong methods for reproducibility, validation, peer review and accountability. The issue is not only whether AI can find patterns, but whether scientists can verify, explain, and responsibly build knowledge from them.

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

Meta employees sue over alleged AI-assisted layoff decisions

A group of 26 Meta employees has sued the company, alleging that AI-assisted systems used in layoff decisions disproportionately affected workers who had taken medical, parental, or family leave.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Oakland, California, and relates to Meta’s May announcement that it would cut about 8,000 jobs, or roughly 10% of its workforce.

According to the complaint, Meta used internal AI systems, activity-monitoring data, token-usage dashboards and algorithmically assisted performance rankings to help select workers for layoffs.

The plaintiffs argue that those metrics could not be fairly accumulated by employees on protected leave or by workers whose output was affected by disability-related accommodations.

All 26 plaintiffs had taken protected leave and had requested or received disability-related accommodations. They have been notified of their layoffs but remain employed, with separations expected to begin on 22 July.

The complaint alleges violations of US labour and civil rights laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

Meta denied the allegations, saying the claims lack merit and that people, not AI, made workforce decisions.

The case adds to broader scrutiny of algorithmic systems in employment decisions, especially where performance metrics may have a disparate impact on workers who exercise protected rights.

Why does it matter?

The lawsuit puts algorithmic management directly into the employment-discrimination debate. If AI-assisted performance metrics do not account for protected leave, disability accommodations or caregiving responsibilities, they can appear neutral while producing unequal outcomes. The case could therefore become an important test of how existing labour and civil rights laws apply when companies use AI systems, productivity data and automated rankings in workforce decisions.

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

South Korea to launch free national AI service

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT has announced plans to launch the ‘AI for Everyone’ project this year, providing a homegrown AI service that anyone in the country can use free of charge without usage limits.

The ministry will select participating companies through an open call for proposals. A beta version is scheduled for late September, followed by the launch of a general-purpose AI chatbot and an AI agent to help users search for and apply for public services.

According to the ministry, the project aims to reduce reliance on overseas AI services while narrowing the digital divide. It also responds to concerns about restrictions on free AI services and possible changes by global technology companies. The nationwide service is expected to launch before the end of 2026.

Why does it matter?

The initiative combines digital inclusion with technological sovereignty by offering unrestricted access to a domestically developed AI service. Removing cost and usage limits could broaden AI adoption while integrating generative AI more closely into public services.

The project also reflects a wider international trend of governments investing in national AI capabilities to reduce dependence on foreign providers. As AI becomes part of essential digital infrastructure, countries are increasingly seeking greater control over the services, platforms and data that underpin public-sector AI deployment.

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