The Johor state government is advancing plans to build an innovation-driven workforce through a new collaboration that places artificial intelligence training at the core of its economic development strategy. A recently signed memorandum of understanding establishes a structured framework to develop local expertise in AI design, strengthen alignment with industry needs, and attract technology investment […]
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Maryland Wins AI Funding to Modernize and Improve Public Services
Maryland has secured more than $2.6 million in grant funding over two years to support state agency projects that use artificial intelligence to reduce barriers and improve access to public services. The funding was awarded through the Public Benefit Innovation Fund of the Center for Civic Futures, which reviewed more than 400 applications from 45 […]
Beyond Funding: How Philanthropy Must Engage with AI
Artificial intelligence is often framed as a tool capable of faster, cheaper, and large-scale operations, making it particularly appealing to philanthropy. AI promises better targeting of welfare, insights from complex data, and new ways to reach historically underserved communities. However, Dr. Sarayu Natarajan, Founder of the Aapti Institute, emphasized at the Asia-Pacific Meeting on AI […]
2025 Insights: How AI Agents Earned Trust and Entered the Workforce
In 2025, AI reached a pivotal stage, transitioning from conversational tools to functional agents capable of performing real work. Unlike traditional large language models (LLMs), which store knowledge, agents combine reasoning, memory, and actionable capabilities to execute tasks. A party planning agent, for instance, can manage calendars, communicate with friends, order supplies, and create entertainment […]
Promoting Ethical AI in the Judiciary: Capacity-Building Initiatives
UNESCO and UNDP have collaborated to strengthen judicial capacity on the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI). A training on AI and the Rule of Law, held in Bangkok, Thailand with support from the Thailand Institute of Justice, brought together 27 judges from 13 Asia-Pacific countries to examine how AI is shaping justice […]
Transforming Education: ADQ and Gates Foundation Collaborate on AI-Powered Learning Solutions
ADU DHABI (December 17, 2025) – ADQ, a sovereign investor focused on critical infrastructure and global supply chains, and the Gates Foundation have announced a landmark partnership aimed at accelerating the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and education technology (EdTech) to improve learning outcomes for children across sub-Saharan Africa. The announcement coincided with Abu […]
What We Learned from Implementing an AI Literacy Initiative
The Graduate College’s Center for Communication Excellence (CCE) at Iowa State University explored how to better prepare graduate students for using artificial intelligence (AI) in research communications through a 2024-25 Miller Faculty Fellowship. With a $48,000 award, CCE staff developed instructional materials and a two-session workshop to guide students in completing literature reviews while building […]
Africa’s AI Opportunity: $1 Trillion GDP Gain Projected by 2035, Says AfDB
The African Development Bank has released a report outlining a strategic roadmap to unlock the economic and social potential of artificial intelligence (AI) across Africa. Titled Africa’s AI Productivity Gain: Pathways to Labour Efficiency, Economic Growth and Inclusive Transformation, the study was developed under the G20 Digital Transformation Working Group and highlights AI’s capacity to […]
Transforming South African Journalism: The Impact of Ethical AI in Newsrooms
The rapid expansion of AI in South Africa’s media sector offers news outlets significant opportunities to improve operations, but the country’s linguistic diversity and uneven digital access require an ethical and context-sensitive approach to adoption. Feedback from the South African media ecosystem highlighted that many journalists were navigating AI on their own due to a […]
Building a Resilient Netherlands: Insights from Global War Economies
Modern security threats are increasingly complex, blurring the lines between peacetime and wartime and placing pressure on legal and operational frameworks. To respond effectively, it may be necessary to scale up defence production and strengthen supply security even in peacetime. This approach facilitates a transition toward a “war economy,” which can better prepare the Netherlands […]
Amazon’s AI Strategy: Key Takeaways for Businesses and Innovators
Amazon’s approach to artificial intelligence is quieter than the high-profile breakthroughs of consumer-focused model developers, yet it has become one of the most influential forces in enterprise AI adoption. Instead of competing for attention with cutting-edge models, Amazon prioritizes building the underlying infrastructure that enables intelligence to operate at global scale. This strong foundation attracts […]
AI Risks Driving a New Era of Divergence, Says UNDP Development Report
A new UNDP report warns that unmanaged artificial intelligence (AI) could widen development gaps between countries, deepening inequalities in economic performance, human capabilities, and governance systems. Titled The Next Great Divergence: Why AI May Widen Inequality Between Countries, the report emphasizes that while AI offers significant opportunities for growth, countries start from highly uneven positions, […]
Llama for Good”: Meta and Deloitte Ireland Empower NGOs with AI Hackathon
Meta and Deloitte Ireland hosted the “Llama for Good” Hackathon to empower Irish NGOs in leveraging AI for public good. The event, held at Meta’s International HQ in Ballsbridge, brought together NGOs including the Open Doors Initiative, Citywise Education, and NOW Group to co-create AI-driven solutions using Meta’s open-source Llama model. Sixteen engineers from Deloitte […]
From Organic Farming to AI Innovation: UN Summit Showcases Global South Solutions
The Green Revolution helped India avert famine in the 20th century by boosting agricultural productivity, but its heavy dependence on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides created long-term environmental and health challenges. As a result, organic farming is gaining momentum, combining scientific advances with traditional practices to produce healthier food while restoring soil quality. Amit Singh of […]
Asia-Pacific’s AI Moment: Who Leads and Who Lags Behind?
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping global opportunities and risks, and this transformation is especially evident across Asia and the Pacific. UNDP’s upcoming regional report, The Next Great Divergence: Why AI may widen inequality between countries, highlights that while AI is advancing at an unprecedented pace, countries are starting from vastly different positions. Some nations are […]
Africa’s Digital Future: UAE Launches $1 Billion AI Infrastructure Initiative
The UAE has launched a $1 billion initiative to support and finance artificial intelligence projects across African countries. Announced at the G20 summit by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the AI for Development program aims to expand the adoption of advanced technologies in key sectors such as education, […]
Surge in Digital Violence Against Women Fueled by AI and Anonymity
Online abuse against women is escalating rapidly, fueled by artificial intelligence, anonymity, and weak legal protections. UN Women warns that 1.8 billion women and girls worldwide still lack adequate legal safeguards against online harassment and technology-facilitated abuse. The rise in digital violence coincides with the 16 Days of Activism campaign, highlighting the urgent need to […]
Africa Launches New Blueprint to Build the Next Generation of AI Talent
Across Africa, interest in artificial intelligence is surging, with public enthusiasm reaching exceptionally high levels. Yet businesses report that their greatest obstacle is not access to funding but finding workers with the AI skills needed to grow. This widening skills gap threatens to limit the continent’s technological and economic potential, making targeted investment in talent […]
UN Warns Healthcare Sector to Adopt Legal Protections for AI
The World Health Organization’s Europe office has issued a strong warning about the rapid rise of artificial intelligence in healthcare, stressing the urgent need for legal safeguards and clear governance. While AI is increasingly used to help doctors detect diseases, streamline administrative tasks, and improve communication with patients, WHO cautioned that without proper strategies on […]
How Community-Driven AI Is Shaping the Future of Humanitarian Communication
A recent discussion on the use of AI-generated visuals in the humanitarian sector highlights concerns about charities creating synthetic images of poverty and suffering. While ethical risks persist, the conversation also opens possibilities for using AI to produce more empowering representations. One overlooked opportunity is the potential for organisations to collaborate directly with communities to […]
