Global AI Newsletter·Issue 21
I. Domestic Governance Developments
(I) Policy and Legislative Updates
8. Jilin Province holds a special meeting on computing-power and electricity coordination
10. Guangzhou Data Cross-Border Service Center officially inaugurated
11. Core node of the National Supercomputing Internet officially put into use in Zhengzhou
(II) Law Enforcement and Judicial Dynamics
1. The Cyberspace Administration of China continues to rectify chaos in online financial information
(III) International Cooperation Updates
1. 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit held in Hong Kong
2. iFLYTEK releases integrated software and hardware AI agent AstronClaw
II. International Governance Developments
(I) Policy and Legislative Updates
1. European Data Protection Board releases Data Protection Impact Assessment template
6. Government of India establishes AI Governance and Economic Group
(II) Law Enforcement and Judicial Updates
1. xAI sues Colorado to block enforcement of AI regulatory law
4. U.S. court criticizes lawyers for directly copying AI-generated content in litigation documents
5. U.S. medtech company Heartflow sues Cleerly over AI cardiac diagnosis patent infringement
(III) International Cooperation Updates
1. Organization of American States and Mastercard strengthen regional cybersecurity cooperation
2. UNESCO supports Paraguay in advancing AI usage rules for the judicial system
1. Stanford University Human-Centered AI Institute releases the 2026 AI Index Report
2. UNESCO releases report on corporate responsible AI governance
I. Domestic Governance Updates
(I) Policy and Legislative Updates
1. Ten departments including the Cyberspace Administration of China jointly issued the Provisions on Promoting and Regulating the Application of Electronic Documents
On April 17, ten departments including the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the Ministry of Public Security jointly promulgated the Provisions on Promoting and Regulating the Application of Electronic Documents (hereinafter referred to as the "Provisions"), which shall come into force on September 1, 2026. Consisting of 5 chapters and 26 articles, the Provisions aim to promote the digitalization of goods trade and transportation, reduce logistics costs and protect the rights and interests of parties concerned.
Adhering to the equal emphasis on development and security, the Provisions encourage the promotion of electronic documents in trade, logistics, finance and other fields, and support financial institutions in exploring the cross-border payment of digital yuan and the application of smart contracts. It clarifies that a reliable electronic document system must have functions such as information traceability, tamper-proofing and identifiable issuers, and transferable electronic documents shall also meet the requirements of uniqueness and exclusive control. Meanwhile, it strengthens the classified and graded protection of data and implements the cybersecurity classified protection system. To facilitate international trade, the Provisions optimize cross-border data transfer rules: data related to electronic documents that do not contain personal information or important data shall be exempted from declaring for security assessment, signing standard contracts or obtaining protection certification.
Link: https://www.cac.gov.cn/2026-04/17/c_1778166821092785.htm
2. The Cyberspace Administration of China issued the Notice on Strengthening the Regulated Management of Live Streaming Rewards
On April 13, the Cyberspace Administration of China issued the Notice on Strengthening the Regulated Management of Live Streaming Rewards (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice"). The Notice stipulates 11 requirements, namely: clearly stating reward rules; standardizing the activation of reward profit-making permissions; providing reward limit functions; providing reward reminder functions; standardizing reward amount rankings; standardizing reward interactions; improving the minor protection mechanism; establishing a negative list for reward profit-making behaviors; strengthening the identification and handling of abnormal rewards; improving the complaint and report acceptance mechanism; and increasing penalties and exposure.
Link: https://www.cac.gov.cn/2026-04/13/c_1777815804150225.htm
3. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology deploys 2026 industrial and information technology quality work to promote the integration of "AI + Quality"
On April 13, the General Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology officially issued a notice to fully deploy 2026 industrial and information technology quality work, arranging key tasks in six aspects: improving enterprise quality, upgrading quality technologies, enhancing product and service quality, consolidating the quality and technical foundation, optimizing the quality development ecosystem, and promoting the brand building of "Made in China".
The notice proposes to guide key enterprises and specialized, sophisticated, unique and new small and medium-sized enterprises to carry out quality management capability evaluations, and promote the coordinated improvement of quality across the industrial chain; organize key quality technology research through the "reveal the list and take the lead" model, and deepen the application of "AI + Quality"; focus on fields such as equipment and electronic information to improve product reliability, and promote the transformation of consumer goods quality to consumer-adaptive types. Meanwhile, it strengthens standard guidance and measurement support, promotes high-end quality certification, and improves the efficiency of quality public services. In addition, the notice clearly supports mass quality activities, strengthens the training of quality talents and the monitoring of quality development, and reinforces quality supervision and management. In terms of brand building, it will improve the manufacturing brand standard system, cultivate regional brands of industrial clusters, and continuously enhance the influence of the "Made in China" brand.
Link: https://www.miit.gov.cn/jgsj/kjs/wjfb/art/2026/art_327af551796b4b86bcc492f5cc0a458f.html
4. The National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee issues the second batch of 2026 national cybersecurity standard requirements
On April 16, the National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee issued the second batch of 2026 national cybersecurity standard requirements, including 16 national cybersecurity standards such as Cybersecurity Technology – Cybersecurity Guidelines for On-Device Large Models, Cybersecurity Technology – Security Specifications for AI Deep Synthesis, and Cybersecurity Technology – Security Testing Methods for AI Foundation Models.
Link: https://www.tc260.org.cn/portal/article/2/1ba8515d8e2a43f6918b05bcf663655b
5. The National Data Administration solicits public opinions on the Implementation Plan for Promoting the Construction of High-Quality Industry Datasets
On April 15, the National Data Administration solicited public opinions on the Implementation Plan for Promoting the Construction of High-Quality Industry Datasets (Draft for Comments) (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"). The Plan proposes that by the end of 2028, a number of high-quality industry datasets covering key fields and verified by applications will be built, a number of typical application scenarios for data-driven innovative development of artificial intelligence will be created, a number of leading innovative data enterprises and professional talents will be cultivated, and a number of standards and tools for the construction of high-quality industry datasets will be formed.
6. Eight departments including the Department of Economy and Information Technology of Hubei Province jointly issued the Implementation Plan for the Special Action of "AI + Manufacturing" in Hubei Province
On April 13, eight departments including the Department of Economy and Information Technology of Hubei Province jointly issued the Implementation Plan for the Special Action of "AI + Manufacturing" in Hubei Province (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"). The Plan puts forward six special actions: first, the Foundation Consolidation Action, including promoting innovative breakthroughs in industrial models, strengthening the development and utilization of industrial data, and optimizing the supply of industrial intelligent computing power; second, the Product Renewal Action, including fostering new business forms of industrial agents, promoting new breakthroughs in intelligent equipment, and accelerating the upgrading of intelligent terminals; third, the Scene Penetration Action, covering five scenarios: R&D and design, pilot testing and verification, production and manufacturing, marketing services, and operation management; fourth, the Industry Empowerment Action, empowering five industries: electronic information, automobiles, raw materials, consumer goods, and medicine; fifth, the Collaborative Construction Action, including accelerating cross-regional coordinated development and promoting multi-field integrated empowerment; sixth, the Ecosystem Optimization Action, including expanding enterprise entities, strengthening development carriers, smoothing supply and demand connection, and strengthening security guarantee.
Link: http://www.whht.org.cn/news_54/9342.html
7. The Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guizhou Province solicits public opinions on the Implementation Plan for "AI + Manufacturing" in Guizhou Province (Draft for Comments)
On April 13, the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guizhou Province issued an announcement to solicit public opinions on the Implementation Plan for "AI + Manufacturing" in Guizhou Province (Draft for Comments) (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"). The Plan puts forward four development directions: first, consolidating the empowerment foundation, including strengthening computing power supply, tapping data value, and promoting model application; second, promoting application practice, including popularizing digital transformation, accelerating intelligent upgrading, and strengthening the promotion of large models; third, strengthening development support, including improving digital infrastructure, cultivating related industries, developing intelligent products, and strengthening scientific and technological innovation; fourth, improving service levels, including strengthening service guidance, gathering service resources, promoting supply and demand connection, and enhancing security protection.
Link: https://gxt.guizhou.gov.cn/gxdt/tzgg/202604/t20260413_89993570.html
8. Jilin Province holds a special meeting on computing-power and electricity coordination
On April 13, Hu Yuting, Deputy Secretary of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee and Governor, presided over a special meeting on computing-power and electricity coordination, reviewing the province’s zero-carbon park construction plan and studying computing power layout. The meeting emphasized that the "Green for Green" project should be promoted in a project-based and engineering manner, the computing power industry should be developed in light of local conditions, and resource advantages should be transformed into development advantages. Hu Yuting pointed out that green energy is the biggest growth pole for Jilin’s revitalization and development. It is necessary to strengthen provincial overall planning, promote the construction of zero-carbon parks to high standards, and scientifically determine the park scale and industrial positioning; coordinate the use of green power direct connection, green hydrogen peak regulation, modern energy storage and other methods to build a stable and low-carbon green energy supply system; give play to the role of leading energy enterprises, vigorously introduce landmark incremental projects, and expand the scale of green power consumption. Meanwhile, based on provincial demand and relying on the advantages of green power, it is necessary to accelerate the layout of the computing power industry, promote the integrated planning and coordinated operation of computing power centers and zero-carbon parks, create electricity price advantages, and effectively promote the coordinated development of computing power and electricity.
Link: https://www.jl.gov.cn/yaowen/202604/t20260413_3623060.html
9. Application for warehousing of special fund projects for Guangzhou’s urban pilot program for digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises launched
On April 17, the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology issued a notice to launch the application for warehousing of the first batch of digital transformation projects for small and medium-sized enterprises under the special fund for Guangzhou’s urban pilot program for digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises in 2026. The notice clarifies that financial support will be provided for digital transformation projects of small and medium-sized enterprises in 6 pilot industries including intelligent connected and new energy vehicles (parts), industrial machine tools and robots, fashion beauty, customized home furnishing, clothing and luggage, as well as 2 newly added pilot industries including biomedicine (including medical devices) and food and beverages. The declared projects must complete the transformation and the digital level evaluation of small and medium-sized enterprises (reaching Level 2 or above) by April 17, 2026.
Link: https://gxj.gz.gov.cn/yw/tzgg/content/post_10775537.html
10. Guangzhou Data Cross-Border Service Center officially inaugurated
On April 14, the Guangzhou Data Cross-Border Service Center was officially inaugurated, marking that Guangzhou has entered a new stage of professional and systematic services in coordinating data security and development and promoting the convenient cross-border flow of data. The service center will provide all-round and refined services for local enterprises to carry out cross-border data activities, and give full play to the expertise of the cyberspace administration department in data security supervision. Institutional innovations such as "supervision empowering services and services connecting compliance" will reduce corporate compliance costs, optimize the business environment, and help high-quality economic development.
Link: https://www.gzwxb.gov.cn/context/contextId/215809
11. Core node of the National Supercomputing Internet officially put into use in Zhengzhou
On April 14, the core node of the National Supercomputing Internet was officially put into use in Zhengzhou. The node was put into trial operation on February 5, initially opening a computing power cluster composed of more than 30,000 domestic AI acceleration chips; on April 14, the chip scale was upgraded to 60,000, building the largest scientific intelligent computing infrastructure in China, and launching the "Super Scientific Computing Agent" strategy. The core node has built an integrated domestic inclusive ecosystem of "data, computing power, models and applications", gathering diverse datasets and thousands of open-source large models. Users can put forward demands in natural language, and the agent can automatically disassemble tasks, schedule computing power, and complete end-to-end delivery, greatly shortening the time of scientific research tasks. The cluster has achieved a full-stack capability upgrade from general AI to AI-driven scientific research, providing replicable experience for the overall planning of national computing power.
Link: https://news.cctv.com/2026/04/14/ARTIaFpFPv6YWfCqw8p7oDTK260414.shtml
(II) Law Enforcement and Judicial Updates
1. The Cyberspace Administration of China continues to rectify chaos in online financial information
On April 16, the Cyberspace Administration of China announced the continuous rectification of chaos in online financial information, legally handling a number of accounts that publicly recommend individual stocks, induce users to join groups for stock recommendation, and sell illegal stock recommendation software, and notified three typical cases: accounts such as "Brother Zhang’s Snowball" publicly recommended individual stocks and incited herd operations; accounts such as "Go Research" induced netizens to join groups for illegal stock recommendation; accounts such as "Tide Catcher" sold illegal stock recommendation software with exaggerated and false publicity.
Link: https://www.cac.gov.cn/2026-04/16/c_1778078583431637.htm
2. The State Administration for Market Regulation imposes administrative penalties on a series of "ghost takeaway" cases on 7 e-commerce platforms including Pinduoduo, Meituan and JD.com in accordance with the law
On April 17, the State Administration for Market Regulation imposed administrative penalties on a series of "ghost takeaway" cases on 7 e-commerce platforms including Pinduoduo, Meituan, JD.com, [Ele.me](Ele.me), Douyin, Taobao and Tmall in accordance with the law. Upon investigation, the 7 e-commerce platforms failed to strictly examine and verify the licenses of food operators accessing the network and failed to fulfill their qualification review obligations in accordance with the law; they signed cooperation agreements with order transfer platforms, and failed to take necessary measures despite knowing or being aware that the order transfer behavior infringed on the legitimate rights and interests of consumers; the legal representatives and food safety directors of the 7 e-commerce platforms, who were responsible for food safety management, failed to fully perform their relevant job duties. The above acts seriously violated the relevant provisions of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, the E-Commerce Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations on the Implementation of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China.
Link: https://www.samr.gov.cn/xw/zj/art/2026/art_9714ee2bef9244819134ef4ffdd14017.html
3. The Cyberspace Administration of Shanghai releases a circular on issues concerning the collection and use of personal information by local Apps (First Batch of 2026)
On April 17, the Cyberspace Administration of Shanghai released a circular on issues concerning the collection and use of personal information by local Apps (First Batch of 2026), involving 8 WeChat mini-programs. The problems include failing to prompt users to read the privacy policy at the first launch, making the privacy policy difficult to access, failing to fully and accurately inform the collection and use of personal information, and inconsistencies between the stated purpose, method and scope of collecting and using personal information and the actual situation.
Link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/KdPpmLwffGIWoytEha1UGQ
4. Beijing launches the "Clear Capital · Guard for You" special campaign for the online protection of minors
On April 13, the Cyberspace Administration of Beijing, together with 10 departments including the Municipal Education Commission, Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Municipal Administration for Market Regulation, Municipal Radio and Television Bureau and Municipal Press and Publication Bureau, jointly launched the "Clear Capital · Guard for You" special campaign for the online protection of minors. The 6-month special campaign focuses on rectifying problems on major local websites and platforms, such as the covert dissemination of vulgar and pornographic information, the fabrication and dissemination of bloody and violent terrorist information, the promotion of bad values and subcultures, the improper use of minors’ images, and the inducement of minors to carry out dangerous imitations.
Link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/DUfaWn8qsbWuRekMgfqvBw
(III) International Cooperation Updates
1. Side event themed "Youth and Global AI Governance: Building an Inclusive and Sustainable Digital Future" held
According to a report by China.org.cn on April 16, during the 2026 United Nations Youth Forum, the China Association for International Exchange of Non-Governmental Organizations (CAIE-NGO), with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Beijing Office and other institutions, held a side event themed "Youth and Global AI Governance: Building an Inclusive and Sustainable Digital Future". Senior UN officials, representatives of social organizations, experts, scholars and youth from many countries attended the event, and conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on three sub-topics: "Effective Paths for Youth Participation in AI Governance", "Current Situation and Countermeasures of Youth Equal Development in the Digital-Intelligent Era", and "The Role of Civil Society in Promoting Youth Participation in Global AI Governance".
Joseph, former Chief Senior Socio-Economic Advisor of the United Nations, pointed out that it is necessary to ensure that technological progress serves sustainable development, help youth master AI skills, and effectively participate in global governance. Lenfeld, an expert from the Human Development Report Office of UNDP, emphasized that in the AI era, it is difficult to distinguish true from false information, and the impact of technological development on youth mental health is a key topic.
Link: http://zw.china.com.cn/2026-04/16/content_118441326.shtml
1.China Academy of Information and Communications Technology releases the Research Report on Key Technologies and Application Practices for Large Model Inference Optimization (2026)
On April 15, the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) released the Research Report on Key Technologies and Application Practices for Large Model Inference Optimization (2026). With reference to a series of standards such as Technical Capability Maturity of Large Model Inference Platforms and Technical Requirements for MoE Development Platforms, the report systematically sorts out the main challenges, core optimization technologies, industrial implementation results, typical industry application cases and future development trends faced by large model inference.
Link: https://www.caict.ac.cn/kxyj/qwfb/ztbg/202604/t20260415_719838.htm
1. 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit held in Hong Kong
From April 13 to 14, the 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit, themed "Digital-Intelligence Empowerment, Innovative Development – Joining Hands to Build a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace", was successfully held in Hong Kong. Hosted by the World Internet Conference and organized by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the summit brought together nearly 1,000 global guests. Attending experts discussed the evolution trend of artificial intelligence to "autonomous agents", emphasized "AI for Good" and digital-intelligence technology for good, committed to opening up new opportunities for digital cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, and continuously building a global platform for digital-intelligence exchange and cooperation.
Link: https://www.xinhuanet.com/20260415/8e90b599b2a04882836ecb0e2ef5ae12/c.html
2. iFLYTEK releases integrated software and hardware AI agent AstronClaw
On April 15, iFLYTEK held an AstronClaw upgrade conference in Guangzhou themed "Visible Now, Infinite Future", focusing on launching 9 innovative products and fully displaying the "integrated software and hardware" AI Agent architecture system for the first time. This release marks that AI Agent has officially bid farewell to the pure "screen interaction era" and advanced to a physical world agent with perception and action capabilities. The new products include end-cloud collaborative devices such as multimodal AI glasses GlassClaw, which can realize cross-end memory synchronization and millisecond-level real-time translation, demonstrating a substantial breakthrough in the evolution of artificial intelligence towards embodied intelligence.
Link: https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20260416A033NL00
II. International Governance Updates
(I) Policy and Legislative Updates
1. European Data Protection Board releases Data Protection Impact Assessment template
On April 14, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) adopted a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) template, aiming to implement the Helsinki Declaration, simplify General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance procedures and enhance regulatory consistency across European countries. Equipped with explanatory documents, the template breaks down key concepts in plain language to help controllers effectively complete assessments. DPIA applies to data processing activities that may pose high risks, requiring the description of processing methods, evaluation of necessity and appropriateness, and reduction of risks to individual rights. The template provides step-by-step guidance and preset fields. Although not mandatory, it helps organizations record the assessment process in a standardized and complete manner, reducing errors and saving time. The template is open for public comments from April 14 to June 9, after which data protection authorities of member states will adopt the template as the sole standard or "meta-template".
2. European Data Protection Board issues guidelines on research data processing and advances anonymization rules
On April 16, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) issued the Guidelines on processing of personal data for scientific research purposes, systematically clarifying the compliance boundaries of research data processing within the framework of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The guidelines put forward six criteria to define research activities, and clarify that further processing of data for research purposes is in principle compatible with the original collection purpose, eliminating the need for repeated purpose compatibility tests. In terms of consent mechanisms, the combination of broad consent and dynamic consent is recognized, while supporting ethical norms and risk mitigation measures are emphasized.
Regarding the rights of data subjects, the guidelines refine the restrictions on the right to erasure and the right to object in research scenarios; and require the clear allocation of responsibilities between controllers and processors when multiple parties are involved. In addition, the EDPB emphasizes strengthening security guarantees through anonymization, pseudonymization and Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs).
At the institutional level, the EDPB has set up a special sprint team to accelerate the development of anonymization guidelines, and approved the upgrade of the "Europrivacy" certification to the European Data Protection Seal, which can be used as a cross-border data transfer tool for the first time, enhancing the role of the GDPR certification mechanism in international data flows.
3. U.S. Social Security Administration proposes revisions to electronic disability claim file system records
On April 15, the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) issued a notice titled Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records to revise the records of the Electronic Disability Claim File (eDIB Claim File) system. The adjustments mainly include: first, expanding the system purpose to include opt-in/opt-out records of electronic communications to regulate the processing of digital communication preference data; second, expanding the record categories to add information such as the license number and validity period of medical examiners, and clarifying that their tax identification numbers may include Social Security numbers; third, updating disclosure and usage rules to rewrite routine disclosure purposes and solicit public comments. Overall, the adjustment reflects the institutionalization of personal information processing scope, disclosure paths and transparency by federal agencies in the process of promoting digital government services.
4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency updates personal information record rules for financial systems
On April 16, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice titled Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records to update the system record description of the Compass Financials IT System (EPA-29). The system covers modules such as accounts receivable, travel reimbursement and accounts payable, involving sensitive personal information such as names, addresses, Social Security numbers and bank accounts. The notice focuses on clarifying: first, the system’s applicable objects and data categories; second, the statutory purposes of disclosing data to the Department of the Treasury, credit reporting agencies, collection agencies and other parties; third, data retention periods and security measures, including the establishment of technical and management control systems in accordance with NIST SP 800-53 Rev.5.
5. U.S. Department of Education lists artificial intelligence as a priority for discretionary grant programs
On April 13, the U.S. Department of Education issued a document listing artificial intelligence as a priority for discretionary grant programs in the education sector. The document mainly makes three adjustments to the original priority provisions: first, adding a section on "using artificial intelligence technology to improve project outcomes" in the priorities; second, adding "providing support and training for educators to guide educators in adopting basic concepts emphasizing AI literacy and critical thinking, while considering developmental readiness and student safety factors in the selection of AI tools in K-12 education"; third, emphasizing the importance of AI ethics.
6. Government of India establishes AI Governance and Economic Group
On April 16, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India established the AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG). A senior inter-ministerial body, it will serve as the central institution for the formulation and coordination of India’s AI governance policies, leading India’s national AI governance strategy. The agency aims to align the actions of various ministries, departments, regulatory agencies and advisory bodies with a coherent national strategy. Its responsibilities include reviewing existing AI mechanisms, studying emerging AI risks, regulatory loopholes and the need for legal revisions, and issuing guidelines to ensure corporate compliance with local AI laws.
Link: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2252739&utm®=3&lang=2
(II) Law Enforcement and Judicial Updates
1. xAI sues Colorado to block enforcement of AI regulatory law
According to a Reuters report on April 17, Elon Musk’s xAI has filed a new lawsuit seeking to block Colorado from enforcing its AI regulatory law. The case centers on the legality of state-level AI regulatory rules. The core dispute is that Colorado law requires developers of AI systems used in high-risk scenarios such as employment, housing, education, healthcare and financial services to fulfill disclosure and risk mitigation obligations, while xAI claims that the law imposes restrictions on the design and development of AI systems, violating the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
2. EU requires Google to open search data to third-party search engines, including AI chatbots with search functionality
According to a Reuters report on April 16, the European Commission proposed that Google should open its search data to third-party search engines, including AI chatbots with search functionality, to implement the requirements of the Digital Markets Act. The EU’s measure mainly clarifies the scope of data Google should share, sharing methods and frequency, anonymization requirements, beneficiary access procedures and pricing parameters, and allows relevant parties to submit opinions by May 1.
3. EU advances antitrust review into Meta’s restriction of third-party AI assistants’ access to WhatsApp
According to a Reuters report on April 15, the EU took interim measures against Meta’s new fee arrangement for third-party AI assistants’ access to WhatsApp, requiring it to restore competitors’ AI assistants’ access to the WhatsApp ecosystem. The procedure came after Meta adjusted its original practice of "comprehensively banning third-party general AI chatbots from accessing WhatsApp Business" to "allowing access but charging fees", but the EU preliminarily held that the fee mechanism may still effectively exclude third-party AI assistants such as OpenAI and affect their fair competition on the platform.
4. U.S. court criticizes lawyers for directly copying AI-generated content in litigation documents
According to a Reuters report on April 15, Judge Tim Baker of the U.S. Federal Court for the District of Indiana severely criticized the plaintiff’s lawyers for directly copying AI-generated content in litigation documents in a labor dispute case against Walmart, characterizing the practice as a "dangerous shortcut". According to the report, the lawyers in the case directly used AI-generated content in the documents submitted to the court, and the court held after review that the practice actually allowed AI to replace the independent professional judgment and verification responsibilities that lawyers should undertake.
5. U.S. medtech company Heartflow sues Cleerly over AI cardiac diagnosis patent infringement
According to a Reuters report on April 13, U.S. medtech company Heartflow sued competitor Cleerly in a federal court in Texas, alleging infringement of six patents related to non-invasive AI cardiac diagnosis technology. Heartflow claims that James Min, founder of Cleerly, served as a consultant to Heartflow from 2012 to 2017, and founded Cleerly while still in a cooperative relationship with Heartflow, and subsequent related products and technical routes are suspected of using Heartflow’s core technologies; meanwhile, Heartflow also accuses Cleerly’s existing AI cardiac imaging products of infringing its patents.
(III) International Cooperation Updates
1. Organization of American States and Mastercard strengthen regional cybersecurity cooperation
On April 14, the Organization of American States (OAS) and Mastercard signed a cooperation arrangement to promote the improvement of cybersecurity and digital resilience in the Americas. The cooperation focuses on: first, carrying out joint cyber defense exercises involving governments, enterprises and technical institutions; second, improving the maturity assessment system of national Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs); third, promoting cybersecurity training and talent development programs, and connecting with existing regional capacity-building mechanisms.
Link: https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/photonews.asp?sCodigo=FNE-144744
2. UNESCO supports Paraguay in advancing AI usage rules for the judicial system
On April 16, UNESCO announced that the Supreme Court of Paraguay had approved Resolution No. 12,677 to establish rules for the use of artificial intelligence within the judicial system. According to UNESCO’s introduction to the resolution, the rules apply to judges and staff of judicial organs, set applicable standards for the use of artificial intelligence in data processing, information management and decision support, and are based on the principles of ethics, transparency and respect for human rights. UNESCO also pointed out that this progress is based on the continuous technical cooperation and capacity building between UNESCO and the Paraguayan judicial authorities.
The content of the rules includes: first, emphasizing that artificial intelligence can only be used as a support tool and cannot replace human judicial judgment; second, requiring explanations of the use of artificial intelligence when it may affect rights and guarantees to enhance transparency and public trust; third, integrating auditability, accountability and the protection of basic rights throughout the entire life cycle of AI systems.
1. Stanford University Human-Centered AI Institute releases the 2026 AI Index Report
On April 13, the Stanford University Human-Centered AI Institute (HAI) released the 2026 AI Index Report.
The report consists of 12 parts, systematically sorting out the global development trends of artificial intelligence from 9 aspects: research and development, technical performance, responsible AI, economy, science, healthcare, education, policy and governance, and public opinion. It summarizes 10 key points: first, AI capabilities are continuously developing and reaching more people worldwide; second, the performance gap between Chinese and American AI models has narrowed significantly, the United States still produces more top AI models and high-impact patents, while China leads in publication volume, citation times, patent output and industrial robot installation; third, the United States has the largest number of AI data centers in the world, and chip manufacturing relies on TSMC foundries; fourth, AI models can win gold medals in the International Mathematical Olympiad but cannot reliably display time; fifth, responsible AI fails to keep pace with AI capabilities, safety benchmarks lag behind, and accidents surge; sixth, the United States leads in AI investment but its ability to attract global talents is declining; seventh, the popularity of AI is unprecedented, and free AI use creates huge value for consumers; eighth, formal education lags behind AI, but people are learning AI skills at all stages of life; ninth, AI sovereignty is becoming a defining feature of national policies, but capabilities are still uneven; tenth, AI experts and the public have vastly different views on the future of the technology, and global trust in institutions managing AI is divided.
Link: https://hai.stanford.edu/assets/files/ai_index_report_2026.pdf
2. UNESCO releases report on corporate responsible AI governance
On April 13, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released Responsible AI in Practice: 2025 Global Insights from the AI Company Data Initiative. Based on corporate disclosure data, the report systematically analyzes AI governance practices, pointing out that while enterprises are rapidly expanding AI applications, governance and transparency mechanisms have not been improved simultaneously. The report emphasizes that enterprises should establish a clear responsibility allocation mechanism, ethical risk reporting channels and remediation systems after data breaches, and promote the transformation from "technical disclosure" to "governance disclosure", which has important reference value for platform governance and personal information protection.
1. 7th Paris Blockchain Week held at the Louvre in Paris
From April 15 to 16, the 7th Paris Blockchain Week 2026 was held at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, with VIP events held simultaneously at the Palace of Versailles. Themed "THE BRIDGE BETWEEN TRADFI AND DIGITAL ASSETS", the conference attracted more than 10,000 decision-makers from over 100 countries and regions. Focusing on key infrastructure issues of future financial markets, including regulatory frameworks, institutional custody, cross-border settlement and market structure, the conference built a high-end platform for docking innovation and capital. The conference set up diverse sections such as CXO Summit, Institutional Day, Startup Competition, Hackathon and VIP Dinner, and provided high-value docking for participants through a dedicated network application (the previous PBW 2025 facilitated 36,000 business meetings), comprehensively promoting institutional-level adoption of digital assets and global ecological cooperation.
Link: https://www.parisblockchainweek.com/
2. ASC Global releases Q2 2026 market report: AI infrastructure triggers storage supercycle and supply chain restructuring
On April 15, ASC Global, a global electronic component distributor, released the Q2 2026 market report, pointing out that the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure and Nexperia’s operational crisis are triggering historic fluctuations and structural changes in the semiconductor industry. The report shows that the storage market has shifted from supply shortage to a "structural scarcity" stage, and the production capacity of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and enterprise-grade SSDs has "encroached" on general DRAM and NAND production lines: DRAM contract prices are expected to rise by 58%-63% in Q2 2026, and NAND flash prices may surge by up to 75%; AI data centers are expected to consume about 70% of high-end DRAM, and the delivery cycle of high-density RDIMMs has been extended to more than 40 weeks. The report also warns of Nexperia’s supply chain risks: its European headquarters and Chinese subsidiaries are nearly "operationally split", the Dutch headquarters cut off IT access for Chinese employees in March 2026, and warned that it cannot verify the AEC-Q101 automotive certification of local Chinese wafer products; the headquarters is accelerating a $300 million expansion in Malaysia, planning to move 90% of global production capacity out of China by mid-2026.
3. 2026 Gen AI Summit EU held in Valencia, Spain
From April 17 to 18, the 2026 Gen AI Summit EU (the second session) was held at the Innsomnia Innovation Center in Valencia, Spain. Focusing on the real application and industrial impact of generative AI in the European corporate ecosystem, the summit brought together technical leaders from Freepik, IBM Research, Voiceflow, Sopra Steria, Deutsche Telekom and other institutions. The summit focused on six core topics: autonomous agents and AI operating systems, next-generation infrastructure and cutting-edge models, productization and business strategies in the AI era, AI applications in industrial and key operational scenarios, security compliance and evaluation, and talents and future working models of AI-native organizations. A Tech Lead Forum and industry exchange and networking events were held concurrently, promoting the in-depth integration of the European generative AI ecosystem in terms of technological innovation, ethical governance and cross-border collaboration.
Link: https://genaisummit.eu/
