NEW LAUNCHES

The latest features, products & partnerships in AI

• NVIDIA’s RTX Remix launches with AI tools that transform classic PC games

• Meeting of the DeepMinds: “Habermas Machine” uses AI to build consensus across divided opinions

• Google DeepMind’s new AI models enable robots to understand, adapt to complex tasks on the fly

• ServiceNow expands AI agent capabilities with Moveworks acquisition and new enterprise tools

• Patronus AI launches Gemini-powered tool to detect handcrafted hallucinations for Etsy

• Snapchat launches AI-generated AR Lenses exclusively for premium subscribers

GOVERNMENT

Law, regulation, defense, pilot programs & politics

• Local GovTech: South Carolina school district explores $90,000 AI effort to personalize instruction

• See-through power: Air Force engineer leverages AI to detect unexploded munitions with drones

• North American Solidarity: USMCA could help secure $3.5 trillion AI market against China

AI INFRASTRUCTURE

Buildout, financing, policy, energy & hardware

• National Grid invests $100 million in AI startups to modernize energy grids

• Microsoft shines down on South Africa, invests $298 million to expand cloud and AI infrastructure

• ZTE and China Mobile unveil 5G-A and AI integration that turns networks into intelligent hubs

IN OTHER NEWS

Compelling stories beyond the usual categories

• East Asia embraces AI companions more readily than the West, animism a possible explanation

• Smarter Brands AI partners with Omniverse City to make AI chatbots affordable for small businesses

• Princeton study: AI robots learn better with zero feedback during training

• Databricks scientist: Companies finding AI value through experimentation, not buzzwords

• Balancing act: How AI could make figure skating judging fairer while preserving artistic merit

• Does conscious AI need protection…from humans?

What’s happening in AI right now

Government AI moves reveal four strategic priorities

Recent developments show governments around the world adopting four distinctive AI strategies that signal a major shift in public sector technology approaches. These moves are reshaping everything from city infrastructure to federal agencies.

Strategy 1: Fast-tracking AI deployment in government operations

The Trump administration is rapidly implementing AI in federal agencies, starting with a large-scale testing program at the General Services Administration. This initiative, part of an "AI-first strategy," aims to automate administrative functions and potentially reduce workforce size.

The GSA is testing an AI chatbot with 1,500 employees, with plans to potentially expand to more than 10,000 staff. This represents one of the largest real-world deployments of generative AI in government and marks a significant departure from the previous administration's more measured approach to AI adoption.

Multiple federal departments are now exploring AI applications for various tasks, though challenges remain around potential biases, factual inaccuracies, and implementation costs.

Strategy 2: Building AI-powered "cognitive cities"

Italy's $2.5 billion AI deal with the UAE marks a significant shift in urban management approaches. Italian firm Synapsia is partnering with UAE's Bold Technologies to develop AI-powered city management systems for Abu Dhabi.

This landmark agreement focuses on addressing urban challenges like transportation, parking, and emergency response through a new joint venture called My Aion Inc. The goal is to transform Abu Dhabi into a city with autonomous, self-learning urban networks.

The deal not only positions Italy as a technology exporter and the UAE as an emerging AI hub, but also represents a significant transfer of AI expertise into urban infrastructure management. It reflects intensifying competition among Gulf states for AI leadership and sets new standards for emerging technologies in complex city operations.

Strategy 3: Establishing national AI capability centers

Governments are investing in specialized education hubs to develop AI talent and capabilities. The University of South Florida is set to become a major cybersecurity education hub thanks to a $40 million donation from tech entrepreneurs Arnie and Lauren Bellini.

This gift will establish the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, aiming to address critical workforce shortages and strengthen America's digital security infrastructure. Starting with 3,000 students and 45 faculty, the initiative has plans to expand to 5,000 students and 100 faculty in three years.

On a much larger scale, China plans to invest $1.4 trillion over 15 years in advanced technologies includes significant funding for AI education and research centers. With over 3.5 million STEM graduates entering the workforce in 2020, China is building a massive talent pipeline for AI development.

Strategy 4: Creating public-private partnerships for critical infrastructure

As budget constraints impact traditional government services, innovative partnerships are emerging to fill the gaps. Tomorrow.io, a weather prediction startup, is positioning itself to supplement the National Weather Service as potential budget cuts threaten its operations.

The company's satellite network and AI-powered technology offer businesses customized weather intelligence, potentially filling critical gaps in public forecasting infrastructure as climate change increases weather volatility. With six weather radar satellites in orbit and plans to launch four more, Tomorrow.io aims to gather global weather data every 40-60 minutes.

In healthcare, public institutions are partnering with AI companies to address workforce challenges. In Louisiana, nursing educators are incorporating AI tools and virtual simulations into training programs to combat a severe nursing shortage projected to reach 42% by 2030.

The emerging public sector AI landscape

These developments point to a fundamental shift in how governments approach AI. Rather than viewing it merely as a tool to incrementally improve existing processes, public sector organizations are increasingly seeing AI as a means to fundamentally reimagine government operations and services.

This shift comes with significant implications. As Anthropic has warned, AI systems matching Nobel laureate-level intellect could emerge by 2026-2027, potentially causing economic disruption. The company has proposed classified communication channels between AI companies and the US government to address rapidly advancing AI capabilities.

For citizens, businesses, and policymakers, understanding these strategic shifts is crucial for navigating the evolving relationship between government, technology, and society. The governments that successfully implement these strategies may gain significant advantages in efficiency, resilience, and capability, while those that lag behind risk falling into technological dependency.

We publish daily research, playbooks, and deep industry data breakdowns. Learn More Here