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Armenia expands AI ecosystem through research, infrastructure and investment

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said government initiatives have helped position Armenia as an emerging centre for technology and AI, according to remarks reported by state news agency Armenpress. Speaking during the election campaign, Pashinyan highlighted several projects that he said demonstrate the government’s efforts to strengthen Armenia’s technology sector.

Pashinyan highlighted agreements signed with US President Donald Trump last year, including cooperation on AI. He argued that subsequent developments in the sector have validated the government’s approach.

As examples of progress, the Prime Minister cited the establishment of an AI centre at Yerevan State University and the launch of the Eleveight AI data centre. He also linked developments in the sector to increased public investment in science and higher salaries for researchers.

Pashinyan said investment in the defence sector has supported technological development and stated that Armenian defence companies are exporting products internationally. He made the remarks during campaigning ahead of Armenia’s parliamentary elections.

Why does it matter?

Armenia is seeking to expand its role in emerging technologies at a time when countries are increasingly investing in AI infrastructure, research capacity and digital innovation as drivers of economic growth and competitiveness.

The government’s focus on AI cooperation, research institutions and data centre infrastructure reflects broader efforts to strengthen domestic technological capabilities and attract investment in the digital economy.

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US Office of National Drug Control Policy releases 2026 National Drug Control Strategy

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has published the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy on 4 May 2026, outlining the US government’s approach to addressing illicit drug supply and related challenges.

ONDCP coordinates US federal drug policy and oversees implementation of the National Drug Control Strategy. The office is responsible for developing and implementing the National Drug Control Strategy and Budget. The office coordinates activities across 19 federal agencies and oversees a budget of approximately USD 44 billion dedicated to addressing addiction, overdose prevention and drug trafficking.

ONDCP also supports programmes such as the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program and the Drug-Free Communities Program, which provide assistance to local communities in addressing drug-related challenges.

Why does it matter?

The National Drug Control Strategy serves as the principal framework guiding US federal efforts to address drug trafficking, substance use disorders and overdose-related harms.

The strategy also shapes funding priorities and coordination across multiple federal agencies involved in public health, law enforcement and community support programmes.

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US Census Bureau reports higher AI adoption among larger firms

The US Census Bureau has published new findings from its Business Trends and Outlook Survey, showing that AI use among US businesses remained between 17% and 20% from December 2025 to May 2026.

The survey also found that between 20% and 23% of businesses expected to use AI within the next six months. The data were collected between 14 December 2025 and 3 May 2026 and provide a biweekly, nationally representative view of AI implementation across US businesses.

AI adoption was higher among larger firms. Around 37% of businesses with at least 250 employees reported using AI in their operations, while 32% of firms with 100 to 249 employees reported AI use during the data collection period ending 3 May 2026.

The Census Bureau said AI use increased among firms with at least 20 employees between December 2025 and May 2026, but did not change significantly among firms with fewer than 20 employees. Less than 20% of firms with four or fewer employees reported using AI.

Sector-level findings showed that AI use remained above the national average in the Information and Finance and Insurance sectors. As of 3 May 2026, AI use reached 39.7% in Information and 33.9% in Finance and Insurance, compared with a national rate of 19.8%.

Retail Trade businesses reported lower adoption rates, with around 14% currently using AI and about 17% expecting to use it within six months.

The Census Bureau also noted that its updated AI supplement now measures AI use across 15 business functions, including finance, human resources, customer service, marketing, information technology, and research and development. The supplement also examines AI-related operational changes, including training, workflow adjustments, and technology investments.

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Google says AI Mode surpasses one billion monthly users

Google said its AI Mode feature has surpassed one billion monthly active users globally. The figures were published in a company blog post marking one year since the feature’s launch.

According to Google, AI Mode query volumes have more than doubled each quarter since launch. Google described AI Mode as combining traditional search functions with conversational AI interactions.

The company also reported increasing use of voice and image-based search features in the United States. Google said image-based searches and planning-related AI Mode queries have grown significantly in recent months.

The company also highlighted growth in exploratory and idea-oriented search queries. The update was released ahead of Google I/O 2026 and reflects Google’s broader focus on AI-integrated search experiences.

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European Commission delays tech sovereignty package again

The European Commission has postponed the presentation of its tech sovereignty package until 3 June, following several earlier delays. The publication had previously been scheduled for 25 March, 15 April and 27 May.

According to Euractiv, the package is expected to include the proposed Cloud and AI Development Act and Chips Act 2. The initiatives are intended to support digital infrastructure development and strengthen Europe’s semiconductor sector. The measures are also expected to encourage data centre investment and semiconductor manufacturing within the EU.

The latest postponement follows comments from the US ambassador to the EU concerning potential trade implications of European digital regulation. Euractiv additionally reported uncertainty regarding a proposed EU open-source strategy previously linked to the package.

The European Commission did not comment publicly on the latest delay.

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US and Sweden expand cooperation on AI and strategic technologies

The White House has announced a new Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Sweden focused on cooperation in strategic technologies, research, and industrial innovation.

The agreement includes cooperation on AI systems, advanced connectivity, and secure 5G and 6G infrastructure. The memorandum also references collaboration on telecommunications standards, subsea communications infrastructure, and industrial AI applications.

Additional areas of cooperation include biomedical research, nuclear energy, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, and space technologies. The agreement also highlights research security, supply chain resilience, intellectual property protection, and safeguards related to sensitive research activities.

The US-Sweden agreement builds on a previous bilateral science and technology partnership established in 2006. The memorandum was published by The White House and its implementation will involve coordination mechanisms that also consider relevant EU regulatory developments.

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DIGITALEUROPE urges stronger EU-US digital cooperation

DIGITALEUROPE has called for the rapid implementation of the EU-US trade deal and the launch of a broader transatlantic digital dialogue. The organisation said commitments under the Turnberry Agreement should be implemented to provide greater predictability for businesses.

DIGITALEUROPE said progress on implementing legislation is important for timely adoption of the agreement. The organisation also highlighted the importance of cooperation on digital resilience and competitiveness between the EU and the United States.

According to DIGITALEUROPE, the proposed EU-US Digital Dialogue could address areas including critical technologies, cybersecurity, secure connectivity, and energy technologies. The organisation said industry participation would support cooperation and transatlantic coordination.

DIGITALEUROPE also called for progress on a Cyber Mutual Recognition Agreement between the EU and the US. The statement reflects ongoing efforts to reinforce digital collaboration between Europe and the US.

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US and China reportedly weigh AI risk talks ahead of leaders’ summit

The United States and China are considering launching official discussions on AI risk management, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

According to the report, the White House and the Chinese government are also considering whether to place AI on the agenda for a planned summit in Beijing between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. If agreed, the talks would mark the first AI-specific engagement between the two governments under the current US administration.

The possible dialogue could focus on risks linked to advanced AI systems, including unexpected model behaviour, autonomous military applications and misuse by non-state actors using powerful open-source tools, people familiar with the discussions told the newspaper. The report said Washington is waiting for Beijing to designate a counterpart for the talks.

The WSJ reported that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is leading the US side, while Chinese Vice Finance Minister Liao Min has been involved in discussions on setting up such a channel. The newspaper added that the two presidents would ultimately decide whether AI appears on the formal summit agenda.

Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, was cited as saying that China is ready to engage in communication on AI risk mitigation. Analysts have raised the possibility that any future dialogue could support crisis-management tools, including an AI hotline between senior leaders.

The report places the latest deliberations in the context of earlier US-China engagement on AI. In 2023, then US President Joe Biden and Xi launched a formal AI dialogue, and both sides later said humans, not AI, would retain authority over nuclear-launch decisions. The WSJ said the earlier process produced limited results, but AI has remained a high-level focus in bilateral relations.

Non-governmental discussions have also reportedly continued in parallel, including exchanges involving former Microsoft research executive Craig Mundie and Chinese counterparts from Tsinghua University and major AI companies. Participants cited by the newspaper said those exchanges have focused on frontier-model safety, technical guardrails and broader questions of strategic stability.

Why does it matter?

A formal AI risk channel between Washington and Beijing would signal that both governments see advanced AI as a strategic stability issue, not only an economic or technological race. Even brief talks could matter if they create channels for crisis communication about military AI, frontier-model failures, or misuse by non-state actors. However, because the discussions are still only reported as under consideration, the significance lies in the possibility of a risk-management mechanism, not in any confirmed diplomatic breakthrough.

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US Federal Reserve highlights AI risks and benefits in the banking system

A US Federal Reserve speech highlights the growing role of AI and emerging technologies in the banking sector and notes that they introduce new risks alongside potential benefits. The remarks stress the need for regulators to closely monitor these developments.

The speech notes that AI could affect areas such as risk management, decision-making and operational processes within financial institutions. It emphasises that rapid adoption may outpace existing oversight frameworks.

Officials said supervision and governance are important to ensure AI is used responsibly. Banks are expected to manage risks effectively while maintaining transparency and accountability in their use of technology.

The Federal Reserve said adapting regulatory approaches will be essential to address technological change while preserving financial stability. The speech was delivered as part of policy discussions in the US.

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Code for America highlights challenges in measuring AI use in public services in the US states

According to Code for America, AI is reshaping how public services are delivered across the United States, yet adoption remains uneven and difficult to measure. They added that state governments are rapidly embracing AI through low-risk pilot programmes while still lacking clear frameworks to evaluate impact.

The report describes AI adoption as following a staged progression beginning with readiness, where leadership structures, workforce skills and infrastructure are developed.

Piloting then introduces experimentation through sandboxes and limited deployments, while implementation embeds AI into operational systems such as fraud detection, document automation, research support and citizen-facing chat assistants.

The report also notes that despite growing experimentation, most US states have not yet transitioned into fully operational and measurable systems.

Leading states, including Utah, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Maryland, Texas and Vermont, are advancing institutional capabilities required to govern AI as a long-term public asset. Others, such as West Virginia, Wyoming, Nebraska, Alaska, Florida and Kansas, remain at earlier stages of readiness and adoption.

The report identifies measuring outcomes as a key challenge. It states that while AI promises efficiency gains and cost reductions, short-term deployment often increases workload for public employees before benefits materialise.

It adds that evaluation frameworks remain underdeveloped, leaving governments with strong governance structures but limited visibility into real performance improvements.

According to Amanda Renteria, CEO of Code for America, the opportunity extends beyond adoption alone, as governments must shape AI in ways that are human-centred and grounded in measurable public outcomes.

The report suggests that states that succeed in aligning technology with real community impact will move beyond experimentation and define the future of public service in the AI era.

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