ai

ChatGPT gets family safety update with parental controls

OpenAI has introduced new parental controls for ChatGPT, giving families greater oversight of how teens use the AI platform. The tools, which are live for all users, allow parents to link accounts with their children and manage settings through a simple control dashboard.

The system introduces stronger safeguards for teen accounts, including filters on graphic or harmful content and restrictions on roleplay involving sex, violence or extreme beauty ideals.

Parents can also fine-tune features such as voice mode, memory, image generation, or set quiet hours when ChatGPT cannot be accessed.

A notification mechanism has been added to alert parents if a teen shows signs of acute distress, escalating to emergency services in critical cases. OpenAI said the controls were shaped by consultation with experts, advocacy groups, and policymakers and will be expanded as research evolves.

To complement the parental controls, a new online resource hub has been launched to help families learn how ChatGPT works and explore positive uses in study, creativity and daily life.

OpenAI also plans to roll out an age-prediction system that automatically applies teen-appropriate settings.

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UK’s Stockton secures £100m AI data centre to strengthen local economy

A £100m AI data centre has been approved for construction on the outskirts of Stockton, with developers Latos Data Centres pledging up to 150 new jobs.

The Preston Farms Industrial Estate site will feature two commercial units, plants, substations and offices, designed to support the growing demands of AI and advanced computing.

Work on the Neural Data Centre is set to begin at the end of the year, with full operations expected by 2028. The project has been welcomed by Industry Minister and Stockton North MP Chris McDonald, who described it as a significant investment in skills and opportunities for the future.

Latos managing director Andy Collin said the facility was intended to be ‘future proof’, calling it a purpose-built factory for the modern digital economy. Local leaders hope the investment will help regenerate Teesside’s industrial base, positioning the region as a hub for cutting-edge infrastructure.

The announcement follows the UK government’s decision to create an AI growth zone in the North East, covering sites in Northumberland and Tyneside. Teesworks in Redcar was not included in the initial allocation, but ministers said further proposals from Teesside were still under review.

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UAE university bets on AI to secure global talent

Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI (MBZUAI) claims to have rapidly become central to the UAE’s ambition to lead in AI.

Founded six years ago, the state-backed institute has hired over 100 faculty, recruited students from 49 nations, and now counts more than 700 alumni. All students receive full scholarships, while professors enjoy freedom from chasing research grants.

The university works closely with G42, the UAE’s flagship AI firm, and has opened a research lab in Silicon Valley. It has already unveiled non-English language models, including Arabic, Kazakh, and Hindi, and recently launched K2 Think, an open-source reasoning model.

MBZUAI is part of a wider national strategy that pairs investment in semiconductor chips with the creation of a global talent pipeline. The UAE now holds over 188,000 AI chips, second only to the US, and aims for AI to contribute 20% of its non-oil GDP by 2031.

About 80% of graduates have remained in the country, aided by long-term residency incentives and tax-free salaries. Analysts say the university’s success will depend on whether it can sustain momentum and secure permanent endowments to outlast shifting UAE government priorities.

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Lufthansa to cut thousands of jobs as AI reshapes operations

Lufthansa Group announced it will cut 4,000 jobs by 2030 as part of a restructuring drive powered by AI and digitalisation. Most of the affected positions will be administrative roles in Germany, with operational staff largely unaffected.

The company said it aims to improve efficiency by reducing duplication across its airlines Lufthansa through the use of AI, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways. It noted that advances in AI would streamline work and allow greater integration within the group.

Despite the job cuts, demand for flights remains high. Capacity is constrained by limited aircraft and engine supply, which has kept planes full and revenue strong. Lufthansa said it expects significantly higher profitability by the end of the decade.

The airline also confirmed plans for the largest fleet modernisation in its history, with over 230 new aircraft to be delivered by 2030, including 100 long-haul jets. Lufthansa employed more than 101,000 people in 2024 and posted revenue of €37.6 billion.

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Digital on Day 5 of UNGA80: AI governance, inclusion, and tech for development

Lighting, Stage, Purple, Electronics, Screen, Computer Hardware, Hardware, Monitor, Light, Urban, Indoors, Club

Welcome to the fifth daily report from the General Debate at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA80). Our daily hybrid AI–human reports bring you a concise overview of how world leaders are framing the digital future.

Day 5 discussions revolved around harnessing AI and digital technologies for development, security, and inclusive growth. Delegates emphasised responsible AI governance, ethical frameworks, and international norms to manage risks, including in military applications. The need for equitable access to AI, digital literacy, and capacity building for developing countries was highlighted to bridge technological and social divides. Participants also addressed cybersecurity, disinformation, and the influence of global tech corporations, emphasising the importance of multilateral cooperation and human-centric approaches. Discussions underscored that leveraging AI and digital innovation responsibly can drive sustainable development, economic autonomy, and long-term prosperity for all.

To keep the highlights clear and accessible, we leave them in bullet points — capturing the key themes and voices as they emerge.

Artificial intelligence

Responsible AI governance

  • AI‘s transformative force can aid conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and humanitarian actions, but early, constructive, and inclusive multilateral engagement is essential. However, AI requires guardrails so that it can be harnessed responsibly. (Singapore)
  • Common norms need to be established at the UN as soon as possible to unlock the transformative potential of new technologies, especially AI, for the benefit of all, while mitigating the risks. (Cuba)
  • Military uses of AI and autonomous weapons in the military domain are dangerous and require international laws regulating them. (Saudi Arabia)
  • Meaningful human control must be retained over life-or-death decisions made by AI in conflict, guided by international law and ethical principles, as the rapid advance of AI has led to concerning levels of autonomy in conflict. (San Marino)
  • The establishment of an Independent International Science Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance are fundamental to promoting scientific understanding of AI and ensuring inclusive multistakeholder discussions, which will contribute to building UN membership capacity, fostering shared knowledge, common understanding, and pooled experience, equally benefiting stakeholders from developing countries. (San Marino)

AI for development and growth

  • The UN needs to be future-ready and harness the potential of emerging technologies like AI as a force for good for all. (Singapore)
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) offers promise but carries profound risks, and safeguards against misuse must be established to build digital societies that bridge development divides rather than widen them. (Philippines)
  • Efforts should be enhanced for developing countries to have access to AI and digital technologies. (Egypt)
  • UAE has sought to harness science, technology, and AI to advance sustainable development around the world. (UAE)
  • AI, as a horizontal and cross-cutting technology, has a particular promise for development. The approach to AI is to harness it responsibly for human welfare, with inclusion and impact as the watchwords for the summit India will host in 2026. (India)
  • AI applications, digital transformation, and innovation are highly important. (Oman)
  • The paradox of today’s world is that unprecedented technological advancement exists alongside deep inequality. Some children walk miles to fetch water from school, and some children are using AI in their lessons. To turn innovation into inclusion, education is needed. (Grenada)
  • AI and AI-related skills are being considered for teaching, understanding, and use to enhance education access, delivery, and outcome, as the jobs of tomorrow cannot be met with the skills of yesterday. (Grenada)

Digital technologies for development

Digital inclusion and access

  • Technological progress fosters growth and interaction. (Belarus) Technology is a defining force of our age, a connector, an enabler, an equaliser. (Philippines)
  • While interdependence has deepened thanks to technology, new divisions and fault lines have emerged, undermining many of the positive gains. (Belarus)
  • The world is rapidly advancing toward the Fourth Industrial Revolution and AI, but a widening gap remains between this realm and the one hostage to poverty and marginalisation. United efforts are needed to devise solutions that are capable of narrowing this gap by achieving just and comprehensive human-centred development (Mauritania)
  • The Global Digital Compact is an important tool that underscores the collective commitment to bridging the digital divide and promoting digital inclusion, creating a more equitable future and ensuring that digital technology is used for the benefit of all humanity. (San Marino)
  • Digital access and inclusive governance are important for enhancing mutual trust and shared benefits, supporting the implementation of the Global Digital Compact. (Lao People’s Democratic Republic)
  • Investing in human capital, advancing green and digital transitions, and reinforcing institutional resilience are key pillars for long-term prosperity. (Romania) 
  • The digital transition is one of the strategic pillars for the national long-term development programme. (Guinea)
  • Digital transformation and AI applications are a priority, alongside innovation and industrial development. (Oman)
  • The digital and scientific, and technological innovation potential is an untapped resource that can serve as a powerful catalyst for accelerating progress toward attaining the SDGs. (Lao People’s Democratic Republic)
  • Digital transformation and the application of modern technology are important to enhance efficiency and strengthen adaptability in ASEAN. (Lao People’s Democratic Republic)
  • Digital skills, coding, and technology clubs are now part of the school environment, and primary school students are assessed through electronic testing, prioritising both digital literacy and problem-solving skills. (Grenada)
  • Investment is being made in digital skills for the new economy. (Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis)
  • Digital public infrastructure has redefined governance and enabled the delivery of public services on an unprecedented scale. (India) The Maldives also noted they are digitalising services.
  • Results of self-reliance, developing national capabilities and nurturing talent can be seen in digital applications. (India)
  • The country’s technicians promote digitisation, and training facilities are open to the world. (India)

Technology transfer and capacity building

  • Access to new technology, innovation, and financial resources remains essential for countries in special situations and the most vulnerable groups. (Lao People’s Democratic Republic)
  • Adequate financial support, technology transfer, and capacity building are crucial for the effective implementation of national climate commitments. (Lao People’s Democratic Republic)
  • Technology transfer must be real, predictable, and accessible to SIDS upon the BBNJ Agreement entering into force, along with benefits sharing. (Maldives)
  • Technology transfer and access to concessionary financing and strengthening North-South partnerships are needed to achieve the right to development. (Tunisia)
  • Technology transfer and capacity building through multilateral processes are key to closing the widening gap between climate ambition and the means of implementation. (Philippines)
  • Global partnerships are needed to expand access to technology and innovation. Small states bring valuable experience in adaptation and resilience. (Grenada)
  • UAE supports building technological capacities of other countries, respecting their national values and priorities and ensuring the responsible and ethical use of these technologies in accordance with international law. (UAE)

Cybersecurity and crime

  • Cyber attacks can cross borders in a second, posing a threat that no single nation can resolve alone. (Bahamas)
  • Online scams are a form of transnational crime being actively combatted, as their impacts ripple far and wide, demanding cooperation without borders. (Thailand)
  • The UN Convention Against Cybercrime is welcomed and will contribute to preventing and combating the misuse of technology and safeguarding fundamental rights and freedoms, with the assistance of international and regional instruments for its implementation. The Council of Europe’s Cybercrime Programme Office (Bucharest) and the Southeast European Law Enforcement Centre hosted by Romania, contributed significantly to combating transnational crime. (Romania)
  • Surveillance drones are being detected intruding into territory on a daily basis across the border areas, which constitutes a violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity. (Thailand)
  • When powerful actors abandon rules, all nations are at risk; this includes the weaponisation of emerging disruptive technologies. (Iceland)
  • Consensus was achieved on the final report of the Open-ended Working Group on Cybersecurity (OEWG), which strengthened the normative framework for responsible state behaviour in cybersecurity, and it was agreed to establish the Global Mechanism on Cybersecurity as a permanent home for this work at the UN. (Singapore)

Disinformation and human rights online

  • Human rights must be upheld in the digital age and online, especially because that is where most young people are. (Romania, San Marino)
  • The implementation of the Global Digital Compact should ensure a human-centric, human rights-based approach to the digital future, which cannot be left with no rules. (Romania)
  • Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy, innovation, culture, and progress, but twisting free speech into the mass production of lies, propaganda, or AI-driven disinformation is not exercising this freedom. (Iceland)
  • Disinformation and conspiracy theories spread online, corroding trust in facts, institutions, and one another, leading to rising intolerance, especially towards marginalised groups. (Iceland)
  • Digital technology increasingly impacts lives, and a few transnationals impose operating systems and control the content that is seen, read, heard, thus manipulating human behaviour under the ‘dictatorship of the algorithm’. (Cuba)

Digital economy and trade

  • The global order is undergoing fundamental shifts impacting trade, technology, and international cooperation. (San Marino)
  • Global corporations transcend borders, shaping economies, technology, and daily life without sufficient accountability, which demands international responses. (Iceland)
  • The negotiation process on the Digital Economy Framework Agreement is being accelerated to position ASEAN as a leading digital economic hub, promoting regional integration, expanding global connectivity, and enhancing capacity for addressing challenges of the modern global economy. (Lao People’s Democratic Republic)
  • High-tech control is an economic concern, along with the grip on supply chains and critical minerals, and the shaping of connectivity. (India)
  • There is a need to break with the cycle of dependence on the export of raw materials and strengthen economic autonomy, maximising the value of raw materials. (Burkina Faso, Niger)
  • Lasting prosperity involves proactive industrialisation policies, maximising the value of raw materials, and creating decent jobs. (Burkina Faso)
  • Making the most of scientific progress, technological advancement and innovation, which are genuine levers for shared, lasting development. (Burkina Faso) 

For other topics discussed, head over to our dedicated UNGA80 page, where you can explore more insights from the General Debate.

Diplo NEWS25 Insta UNGA

The 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80)

The General Debate at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly brings together high-level representatives from across the globe to discuss the most pressing issues of our time. The session took place against the backdrop of the UN’s 80th anniversary, serving as a moment for both reflection and a forward-looking assessment of the organisation’s role and relevance.

Diplo explores AI and diplomacy in the Gulf

DiploFoundation has taken its work on AI and governance to the Gulf, with engagements in Oman and Qatar focused on how AI is reshaping diplomacy and policymaking. In Muscat, Jovan Kurbalija delivered a lecture on AI’s geopolitical implications, led a workshop on the future of digital diplomacy, and met with institutions advancing Oman’s National AI Strategy and innovation ecosystem.

In Doha, Diplo participated in the international conference AI Ethics: The Convergence of Technology and Diverse Moral Traditions. Dr Kurbalija joined a panel on transnational AI principles, discussing how diverse ethical and cultural frameworks can guide global standards for responsible AI.

Diplo in Gulf

The Gulf engagements highlighted the need to balance innovation with responsibility. Discussions focused on equipping government staff with AI expertise, ensuring technology is integrated into governance that reflects cultural values, and shaping diplomatic practice around collaboration with tech companies.

Diplo’s programme builds on its long-standing research into how Arabic and Islamic philosophical traditions can enrich global debates on AI. The initiative aims to advance inclusive, practical, and ethical approaches to AI in international policy and diplomacy by bringing these perspectives to the table.

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New era for Kazakhstan’s digital economy

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has outlined a bold vision to transform the nation into a fully digital state within three years. He plans to leverage AI to modernise the economy and public administration.

At the opening of a new parliamentary session, Tokayev emphasised the need for comprehensive digitalisation to ensure socio-economic stability amid global challenges. A new Ministry of AI and Digital Development will drive the agenda under a Digital Code for AI, big data, and the platform economy.

Tokayev urged a revised investment policy to boost competitiveness, focusing on high-tech manufacturing instead of reliance on raw materials. The government has been tasked with streamlining investment processes, with the Prime Minister directly responsible for attracting funds.

The Asset Recovery Committee will be reshaped into the Committee for Investors’ Rights after recovering 850 billion tenge for public projects like schools and healthcare.

The President proposed parliamentary reform, calling for a unicameral Parliament elected by party lists by 2027, pending public debate and a referendum. The move aims to enhance legislative efficiency and align with global parliamentary traditions.

Agriculture, transport, and water management will undergo digital upgrades, with AI optimising land use, logistics, and resource conservation for sustainable development.

Kazakhstan will strengthen its Eurasian transit hub role with projects like the Trans-Caspian Route and a digital freight platform, Smart Cargo. Tokayev urged unity and patriotism to tackle global challenges and build a prosperous digital Kazakhstan.

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Balancing chaos and precision: The paradox of AI work

In a recent blog post, Jovan Kurbalija explores why working in AI often feels like living with two competing personalities. On one side is the explorer, curious, bold, and eager to experiment with new models and frameworks. That mindset thrives on quick bursts of creativity and the thrill of discovering novel possibilities.

Yet, the same field demands the opposite. The engineer’s discipline, a relentless focus on precision, validation, and endless refinement, until AI systems are impressive and reliable.

The paradox makes the search for AI talent unusually difficult. Few individuals naturally embody both restless curiosity and meticulous perfectionism.

The challenge is amplified by AI itself, which often produces plausible but uncertain outputs, requiring both tolerance for ambiguity and an insistence on accuracy. It is a balancing act between ADHD-like energy and OCD-like rigour—traits rarely found together in one professional.

The tension is visible across disciplines. Diplomats, accustomed to working with probabilities in unpredictable contexts, approach AI differently from software developers trained in deterministic systems.

Large language models blur these worlds, demanding a blend of adaptability and engineering rigour. Recognising that no single person can embody all these traits, the solution lies in carefully designed teams that combine contrasting strengths.

Kurbalija points to Diplo’s AI apprenticeship as an example of this approach. Apprentices are exposed to both the ‘sprint’ of quickly building functional AI agents and the ‘marathon’ of refining them into robust, trustworthy systems. By embracing this duality, teams can bridge the gap between rapid innovation and reliable execution, turning AI’s inherent contradictions into a source of strength.

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Microsoft adds AI auto-categorisation to Photos app

Microsoft is introducing an AI-powered auto-categorisation feature to the Photos app on Windows 11 for all Insider channels. The update automatically sorts images into screenshots, receipts, identity documents, and notes, making managing large photo libraries easier.

The feature is language-agnostic, recognising document types regardless of language, and aims to save time and reduce clutter.

Photos that match the AI model are grouped automatically, but users can browse categories via the app’s navigation or Search bar and manually reassign images if needed. The update adds Super Resolution to Copilot Plus PCs, enhancing low-resolution images with advanced AI.

Microsoft has included other unspecified fixes and improvements in the update, ensuring overall app performance is optimised. The company emphasises that the rollout may be gradual, so some features appear later for certain Insider users.

To access the new features, users must update the Photos app to version 2025.11090.25001.0 or higher via the Microsoft Store. The enhancements are part of Microsoft’s ongoing effort to make Windows 11 more intuitive, efficient, and AI-driven for everyday tasks.

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Bye Bye Google AI hides unwanted AI results in Search

Google is pushing AI deeper into its services, with AI Overviews already reaching billions of users and AI Mode now added to Search. Chrome is also being rebranded as an AI-first browser.

Not all users welcome these changes. Concerns remain about accuracy, intrusive design and Google’s growing control over how information is displayed. Unlike other features, AI elements in Search cannot be turned off directly, leaving users reliant on third-party solutions.

One such solution is the new ‘Bye Bye, Google AI’ extension, which hides AI-generated results and unwanted blocks such as sponsored links, shopping sections and discussion forums.

The extension works across Chromium-based browsers, though it relies on CSS and may break when Google updates its interface.

A debate that reflects wider unease about AI in Search.

While Google claims it improves user experience, critics argue it risks spreading false information and keeping traffic within Google’s ecosystem rather than directing users to original publishers.

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