Tools & Platforms

The Washington Effect? Europe Weighs Pausing the AI Act

Published

16 hours ago

July 8, 2025

When AI opened a new frontier, the European Union responded by focusing on the technology’s potential dangers. It raced ahead with a new regulation aimed to head off a potential machine apocalypse, killer robots running wild, surveillance tools destroying civil liberties, and automation eviscerating jobs.

The result was a broad, binding AI Act — and a backlash.

Unlike previous European tech regulations about privacy and competition, which spread around the globe, few other countries have followed on AI, considering Europe’s regulation premature. A new European Commission took office committed, unlike its predecessor, to boosting competitiveness and regulatory simplification.

Is this the Washington effect? Even after the Senate’s 99-1 vote to strip a proposed decade-long moratorium on state AI enforcement from President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, the administration continues to nudge federal policy toward light-touch AI oversight. Trump’s January executive order, Removing Barriers to American Leadership in AI, revoked the Biden-era safety mandate and instructed agencies to avoid rules that might impede innovation, just as Brussels debates whether to slow the rollout of its own strict regime.

If the US rushes ahead, will it leave the continent in the dust? European leaders fearing this outcome are calling for a pause and rethink. Although the AI Act’s first bans have been in force since February, deadlines are looming: a voluntary code of practice for powerful AI models by August 2, followed a year later by binding rules for every high-risk system, from AI-driven hiring tools to border-control algorithms.

Several capitals warn that the timetable is no longer realistic. Core technical standards remain mired in draft form, while several member states have not even appointed the national watchdogs needed to police the new regime. The Commission now faces an uncomfortable choice: press on and court chaos, or pause and regroup.

Support for hitting the brakes is gathering pace across the bloc. Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, became the first EU leader to call for a formal timeout. He branded the fledgling rulebook “confusing” without common standards. Czech deputy minister Jan Kavalírek argued that companies need breathing space to comply. Spain’s digital transformation minister, Óscar López Águeda, backed streamlining while rejecting a full rollback: “It’s not about stopping the clock, it’s about synchronizing our clocks,” Agueda said.

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European regulators are attempting to show flexibility, while insisting that they will uphold the AI legislation. “The August 2 deadline will stand and be enforced,” insisted Lucilla Sioli, the head of the EU AI Office at a recent conference on AI governance. At the same time, she added that officials are drafting a simplification package so the later deadlines “don’t bury companies” — particularly small and medium-sized firms — “in red tape.”

Junking the entire regulation remains a step too far. Margrethe Vestager, the former competition chief who steered the AI Act through three grueling years of negotiation, says reopening the text “way too soon” would drain public trust. German European parliamentarian Axel Voss makes the same argument: endless chatter about rewrites breeds uncertainty and chips away at Brussels’ reputation as a serious rule-setter.

Under the most probable scenario, the February bans would stay put, but the obligations for general-purpose AI models due in August and the full high-risk regime (due in August 2026) would slide by 12 to 24 months. High-risk systems decide who is offered a job or a loan, keep the lights on, or influence a doctor’s diagnosis – situations where a flawed model could upend a person’s livelihood or put lives in danger. The AI Act mandates rigorous testing, traceability, and human oversight on such high-risk systems before such applications reach the market.

A delay would allow the new European AI Office to hire inspectors, give time to finish detailed standards, and permit capitals to establish their own supervisory authorities. Politically, it will be credible only if it mandates visible progress on these fronts; otherwise, critics will see it as a concession to industry pressure rather than a genuine bid for improved enforcement.

Europe bet that drafting the world’s first AI law would set global rules. The bloc now must decide: hold the line or call a timeout in hopes of allowing the continent to focus on innovating with the new technology. Neither path offers certainty.

Anda Bologa is a Senior Researcher in Brussels with the Tech Policy Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).

Elly Rostoum contributed reporting from Washington.

Bandwidth is CEPA’s online journal dedicated to advancing transatlantic cooperation on tech policy. All opinions expressed on Bandwidth are those of the author alone and may not represent those of the institutions they represent or the Center for European Policy Analysis. CEPA maintains a strict intellectual independence policy across all its projects and publications.

CEPA Europe’s Tech & Security Conference in Brussels.

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Tools & Platforms

GPTBots.ai Showcases Business AI Agent Solutions at The

Published

46 minutes ago

July 9, 2025

GPTBots

HONG KONG, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As enterprises worldwide race to adopt AI, GPTBots.ai made its mark at The MarTech Summit Hong Kong, Asia’s premier marketing technology conference attended by world-renowned brands such as JPMorgan, Yahoo, Nike, and DBS, alongside leading Hong Kong enterprises including Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Disneyland, and The Hong Kong Jockey Club.

With 85% of enterprises prioritizing AI adoption in 2024 (Gartner), yet struggling with implementation gaps, GPTBots.ai demonstrated how its no-code AI Agent platform turns complex AI concepts into deployable solutions—without coding or data science teams.

Spotlight: Real-World AI in Action
At the summit, GPTBots.ai engaged with forward-thinking organizations, including:
A Top Hong Kong University: Their admissions team explored AI-powered chatbots to streamline student inquiries and application processes, aiming to:

Automate 80% of FAQs (e.g., program requirements, deadlines).
Guide applicants through form-filling with smart error detection.
Free staff to focus on students’ in-depth support.

A Leading Hong Kong Airline: Their tech team discussed internal efficiency AI Agents for:

AI search to make enterprise knowledge instantly accessible and empower every role.
Reducing IT helpdesk tickets by 50% via self-service troubleshooting.

Why GPTBots.ai Stood Out

Enterprise-Ready: Built to adapt to your business, no matter the size or complexity.
Proven at Scale: Powers AI Agents for financial services, healthcare, and retail giants.
End-to-End Capabilities: From strategy to deployment, we manage every step of your AI journey.

“The gap isn’t AI potential—it’s practical adoption,” said Tanya Quan, Marketing Director at GPTBots.ai. “We’re helping enterprises skip the lab and go straight to ROI.”

About GPTBots.ai
GPTBots.ai is an enterprise AI agent platform that empowers businesses to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth. Offering end-to-end AI solutions across customer service, knowledge search, data analysis, and lead generation, GPTBots enables enterprises to harness the full potential of AI with ease. With seamless integration into various systems, and support for scalable, secure deployments, GPTBots is dedicated to reducing costs, accelerating growth, and helping businesses thrive in the AI era.

To learn how GPTBots can accelerate your AI transformation, visit gptbots.ai.

Media Contact:
Contact: marketing@gptbots.ai
Website: www.gptbots.ai

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9039b0e4-6355-4e0c-83d2-ca91953120f9

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Exploring AI and Emerging Technologies: A Special Event for UK Schools for Girls

Published

53 minutes ago

July 9, 2025

Vajeeha Farooq

This was the second edition of the annual ‘AI Educational Revolution’ event. This hybrid event is co-organised by UCL Computer Science, GSA (Girls School Association) and Guernsey Ladies’ College. The series was developed as a way of inspiring secondary school girls to explore AI and STEM opportunities and to consider how they can shape their own futures in these rapidly evolving fields.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries across the globe, influencing everything from global politics to creative sectors such as fashion. This year’s event offered students a unique opportunity to learn about the role of AI in shaping the future, with a focus on how AI is revolutionising careers and education.

Keynote Speakers and Topics

Leading experts from UCL, the government, and industry took to the stage to discuss AI’s impact on various sectors. The session covered everything from AI in geopolitics to its creative applications, with a particular emphasis on how these technologies are influencing education, career paths, and social inclusion.

Predicting Our Future: The Role of STEM

Insight on AI and Geopolitics
Ms. Jo Miller, Director of Technology at the UK Civil Service, kicked off the event with a thought-provoking talk about the vital role STEM and AI play in global geopolitics and technological futures.

The Power of Women in AI
Jo highlighted the importance of women and girls in shaping AI’s future. She posed the question, “What do you want the future to say?” and encouraged the audience to engage with AI to influence its direction.

Overcoming Barriers in Tech
Drawing from her own career in tech, Jo shared how her humanities background didn’t hinder her success. She urged students to pursue their ambitions in tech, regardless of their starting point.

AI in Education: Shaping the Future

AI and Career Paths
Daniele Harford-Fox, Principal of Guernsey Ladies’ College, discussed how AI is reshaping both education and the workforce. She highlighted the significant impact AI could have on professions like medicine, where many tasks may be automated.

The Importance of Human Skills in Some Fields
While AI may transform many areas, Daniele pointed out that certain roles, such as nursing, will still require human expertise and care, stressing the importance of these skills in the workforce of the future.

AI in Multisensory Experiences

Engaging the Senses
Prof. Marianna Obrist (Multi-Sensory Devices Lab at UCL Computer Science) introduced the concept of “AI in Multisensory Experiences.” She showcased how AI is enabling new ways to interact with the world through multiple senses, creating richer, more engaging experiences.

Humanising Technology
Her research focuses on incorporating more ‘humaness’ into technology. Prof. Obrist demonstrated how sensory experiences are being used in places like retail outlets and museums, as well as in therapeutic settings, such as using scent to enhance body image perception.

AI in Fashion and Beauty

AI’s Impact on Creative Industries
Prof. Philip Treleaven from UCL discussed how AI technologies, including ChatGPT, are transforming the fashion and beauty sectors. He highlighted the use of AI to create digital influencers, automate processes like dexterous sewing robots, and help brands like Shein to capitalise on trends and produce designs at an unprecedented pace.

AI for Social Inclusion

AI’s Potential for Education
Steve Grix, an expert in GENAIE and CAPTR, concluded the talks by discussing the use of AI for social inclusion. He introduced GENAIE, a generative AI platform designed to personalise education for disadvantaged communities.

AI Bridging Educational Gaps
Steve demonstrated how quickly GENAIE could generate lesson plans, showcasing its potential to bridge educational gaps and offer new learning opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.

UCAS Applications and Q&A Session

In addition to the expert talks, students were given guidance on making a UCAS application. The event concluded with a lively Q&A session, where students had the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with the speakers. The students’ thoughtful and ethical questions impressed the expert panel, sparking deeper discussions about the future role of AI in shaping both careers and society.

When asked for final thoughts, some of the students concluded the concepts and predictions gave them cause to think, but they wouldn’t let it deter them from their career aspirations.

As AI continues to revolutionise a broad range of industries, this event provides an invaluable platform for students to engage with the technologies that will shape their futures. It also highlighted the importance of diverse input into the development of AI and the opportunities for young women to drive change in this field.

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China’s first bachelor’s program in AI education to address teacher shortage-Xinhua

Published

1 hour ago

July 9, 2025

The Editors

A student operates an AI-powered VR device at Shenzhen Xiantian Foreign Language School in south China’s Guangdong Province, March 21, 2025. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) — Beijing Normal University (BNU) has launched China’s first undergraduate program dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI) education, aiming to address a critical shortage of specialized teachers in the field.

The initiative aligns with government directives to boost AI education across primary and secondary schools nationwide, the Science and Technology Daily reported on Wednesday.

In late 2024, the Ministry of Education issued a directive calling for measures to advance AI education in primary and secondary schools.

This year, Beijing’s municipal authorities issued a dedicated AI education plan for 2025-2027, demanding the establishment of regular teaching systems and standardized curricula.

“The shortage of qualified instructors and the lack of specialized training remain major obstacles,” said an official from BNU’s Faculty of Education, adding that the program’s core mission is to train educators equipped with both advanced AI technical skills and strong pedagogical expertise.

“We are leveraging our unique interdisciplinary strengths to cultivate talent that supports the country’s strategic drive toward intelligent education,” the official said.

Unlike purely technical AI degrees, BNU’s AI Education program integrates two essential knowledge streams. The curriculum combines an AI technology module, covering generative AI, machine learning, natural language processing, and educational data mining, with a foundation in education science, including learning theory, psychology, curriculum design and assessment.

The program also plans to introduce practical innovation courses, such as the application of AI technologies in education.

In addition, compulsory courses cover topics such as AI ethics and data security, instilling in students a core philosophy of “technology serving education,” according to BNU.

Beyond theory, the program fosters practical skills through a unique “university-enterprise-school” collaborative training model, which helps immerse students in real-world teaching environments and technical development projects.

Career prospects in the AI education field are broad, with graduates well-prepared to become AI or information technology teachers, driving digital transformation in primary and secondary schools.

The booming educational technology sector also needs their expertise to develop and refine AI-driven learning platforms and courses. Further career paths include academic research, educational management, and shaping AI education policy, according to the BNU’s Faculty of Education.

“AI advancements are reshaping society at unprecedented rates, profoundly altering education,” said Yu Shengquan, executive director of BNU’s Advanced Innovation Center for Future Education.

“Developing ‘digital citizens’ equipped for this new reality is now a central educational imperative,” Yu added.

The center has previously partnered with Chinese tech giant Tencent to develop a comprehensive AI knowledge framework and curriculum spanning elementary, middle and high school levels, according to Yu. ■

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