On 20 February, during the Spring Festival celebrations in Beijing, a local resident encountered an injured common kestrel near White Stupa Temple in the Xicheng District, close to the Forbidden City. The bird had become trapped in rodent glue, leaving it completely immobilised with its feathers stuck and unable to fly. Glue traps pose a […]
How Artificial Intelligence Influences Gender Discrimination
Artificial intelligence and discrimination have been widely discussed in recent years, yet incidents involving bias in AI systems continue to emerge. These biases can relate to race, age, gender, ethnicity, religion, nationality, disability, culture, socio-economic status, and geographical location. Rather than presenting a scientific analysis, the discussion focuses on reflecting on the responsibilities of AI […]
UNESCO and MeitY Release India AI Readiness Report 2026
On 16 February 2026, UNESCO and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, launched the India Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Report at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Developed by UNESCO in partnership with the IndiaAI Mission and Ikigai Law, and supported by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, the report examines […]
Huawei Unveils AI Solutions to Transform the Financial Sector
Huawei has introduced a suite of artificial intelligence products aimed at modernizing digital operations for banking and capital markets institutions. The announcement was made during MWC Barcelona 2026 at the finance session titled “Powering Resilient Intelligence, Co-creating Finance Future,” where the company showcased a comprehensive upgrade of its Banking AI and Foundation Model Solutions, enhancing […]
Applications open for AI Reporting Grants Program
Deadline: 08-Mar-2026 The Tarbell AI Reporting Grants Program supports original journalism on artificial intelligence and its societal impacts. Grants range from $1,000 to $20,000 and fund written and multimedia reporting across six key AI focus areas. Applications are open to experienced journalists and media creators worldwide, including freelancers and investigative reporters. About the Grants The […]
Google.org Impact Challenge: AI for Government Innovation
Deadline: 03-Apr-2026 Google.org has launched a $30 million global funding initiative to support the use of generative and agentic AI in transforming public services. The Google.org Impact Challenge: AI for Government Innovation will award $1 million to $3 million USD to selected nonprofits, social enterprises, and academic institutions partnering with governments. Applications close on 3 […]
How AI is Transforming Workplaces and Employee Conditions
Experts from around the world recently convened in a webinar organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is already transforming work and explore ways to ensure that these changes advance decent work, social justice, and human prosperity. Sher Verick, ILO coordinator for digitalization […]
MWC26: GSMA Foundry and ESA Announce €100M Tech Funding Boost
GSMA Foundry and the European Space Agency (ESA) have announced up to €100 million in new funding to accelerate innovation at the intersection of space and mobile technologies. Revealed at MWC26 in Barcelona, the ESA-backed initiative aims to advance artificial intelligence for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity, 5G and 6G hubs, and early-stage 6G […]
MWC26 Barcelona Calls for 5G Expansion, AI Leadership, and Digital Safety
The global connectivity industry has gathered in Barcelona for MWC26, one of the world’s largest and most influential events focused on mobile technology and digital innovation. The event brings together exhibitors, policymakers, startups, and industry leaders at a pivotal time when advanced 5G networks, artificial intelligence (AI), and growing digital threats are rapidly transforming economies […]
How Kenya is Leading the Charge in Governance-Led AI Transformation
Kenya is taking significant strides in implementing a governance-led approach to artificial intelligence (AI) across its public sector. Following the launch of the UNESCO-Oxford Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on AI and Digital Transformation in Government in November 2025, civil servants are now applying their learning to institutional practices. The MOOC, delivered through the Kenya […]
Landmark Consultation on Child Protection in Social Media, Gaming, and AI
The UK government has launched a significant consultation aimed at exploring measures to protect children online, covering areas from social media to gaming platforms and AI chatbots. This consultation will consider several potential measures, including a ban on social media for children, restrictions on gaming, limits on AI chatbot features, and implementing overnight curfews. It […]
AI Kid of India: Inspiring the Next Generation to Embrace Technology
At the recent India AI Summit, Raul shared his passion for technology and emphasized the importance of fully embracing it. A largely self-taught innovator, Raul began his journey at the age of 12 when he built his first robot. Since then, he has developed over 10 AI tools and provided advisory services to the governments […]
AI in Scientific Publishing: Opportunity or Threat?
Last year, Mohammad Hosseini, an artificial intelligence ethics researcher at Northwestern University, evaluated around 500 article submissions as an editor for the journal Accountability in Research. He noted that some papers appeared to have been obviously generated by AI, often marked by incoherence, excessive em-dash use, abrupt logical jumps, and disjointed text. However, as AI […]
AI Evaluation in Action: Lessons from Real-World Implementers
AI systems are increasingly being deployed in public-facing contexts, assisting doctors with triage, guiding users through government services, supporting legal processes, and answering a wide range of questions at scale. As their use grows, the need for rigorous evaluation becomes both urgent and complex for organizations building, funding, or deploying these technologies. Evaluating AI in […]
How Artificial Intelligence is Shaping Samoa’s Future
In 2026, artificial intelligence (AI) remains central to global development discussions, especially as the world approaches the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With only a few years remaining, a critical question emerges: will AI accelerate progress toward these goals or deepen existing inequalities? As the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) engages […]
AI 10 Billion Initiative Launched by AfDB and UNDP at Nairobi 2026 Forum
The African Development Bank Group and the United Nations Development Programme have launched the AI 10 Billion Initiative, a continental effort to accelerate responsible AI adoption and inclusive digital economic growth across Africa. Announced at the 2026 Nairobi AI Forum, held on 9–10 February in Kenya, the initiative brings together governments, private sector leaders, development […]
World Radio Day 2026 in Pakistan: AI Enhances Educational Broadcasting
For World Radio Day 2026, UNESCO Pakistan celebrated the 15th annual event under the theme “Radio and AI: A Tool, Not a Voice,” highlighting how Artificial Intelligence can modernize radio broadcasting while preserving its human connection and trust. Radio continues to play a critical role in Pakistan, providing educational and informational access to remote regions […]
EVAH Launch: Generating Data and Insights for AI in Health
The Evidence for AI in Health (EVAH) initiative has been launched to generate robust, locally led evidence on AI tools in healthcare, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Developed in partnership with the Gates Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the initiative will invest US$60 million over three years to evaluate AI technologies and guide […]
Gates, Wellcome, and Novo Nordisk Launch $60M Initiative to Evaluate AI in Health in LMICs
The Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and Novo Nordisk Foundation have announced a joint $60 million investment to support locally led evaluations of AI health tools in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The initiative, Evidence for AI in Health (EVAH), aims to generate evidence on which AI technologies are effective, feasible, and responsible in real-world health settings. […]
UN Agencies Explore Scaling AI for Development at India AI Impact Summit 2026
Leading experts from three Rome-based United Nations agencies—the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Food Programme (WFP)—participated in a high-level panel at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Joined by India’s Chief Economic Advisor, the discussion focused on translating pilot AI projects into scalable solutions that […]
