Pilot program

The UK is piloting social media restrictions for hundreds of teenagers, testing curfews and time limits. This follows a failed ban proposal for under-16s. The initiative is part of a broader digital wellbeing consultation. Similar regulatory actions are occurring internationally, with Australia and Spain already enacting bans, and France considering one. Large-scale scientific trials are also underway to assess social media’s impact on adolescent mental health.

OpenAI’s cautious rollout of ChatGPT ads, despite initial fanfare, has frustrated advertisers with high commitment thresholds and slow progress. While some companies like Dentsu see potential and praise OpenAI’s responsiveness, others worry about unspent budgets. Despite these challenges, the long-term prospects for AI-driven advertising are significant, with OpenAI projected for substantial revenue growth, though competitors like Anthropic are actively avoiding ads. The evolving landscape sees Google yet to announce Gemini ad plans, setting up a competitive race.

China launched a pilot program (2025-2027) for smart elderly care robots, jointly announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The program targets home, community, and institutional care, focusing on assistive robots, companionship, and health promotion. It emphasizes standardized frameworks, rigorous testing, and collaborative R&D to improve safety and usability, with outcomes showcased to promote robotic elder care solutions for the aging population.