Global AI Newsletter·Issue 26
Table of Contents
I. Domestic Governance Updates
(1) Policy and Legislative Updates
2. National Data Administration Issues 2026 Digital Economy Development Work Priorities
5. Digital China Development Indicator System and Development Index Officially Released
6. National Data Administration Convenes Symposium with Private Enterprises in the Data Sector
(2) Law Enforcement and Judicial Updates
1. MIIT Reports Apps Infringing on User Rights
(3) International Cooperation Updates
2. China and the U.S. Agree to Launch Inter-Governmental AI Dialogue
3. China and Russia Propose Deeper Cooperation in AI and Other Digital Fields
1. CAICT Releases "Research Report on AI Empowering the Marine Industry"
2. CAICT Releases "Research Report on AI Model-Data Resonance System"
3. CAICT Releases "DPU Development Analysis Report (2026)"
1. High-Quality Dataset Construction On-Site Meeting Held in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province
II. International Governance Updates
(1) Policy and Legislative Updates
2. Japanese Government Convenes First Cross-Ministerial Meeting to Address High-Performance AI Risks
(2) Law Enforcement and Judicial Updates
(3) International Cooperation Updates
1. India and Italy Strengthen Cooperation in AI and Other Sci-Tech Innovation Fields
2. U.S. Department of State Hosts Inaugural U.S.-ASEAN AI Ministerial Meeting
3. Canada and Spain Sign AI Cooperation Memorandum
5. United States and Sweden Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Technology
6. Inaugural Singapore-Japan Digital Cooperation Dialogue Held in Singapore
1. North America AI & Big Data Expo Held in San Jose, USA
I. Domestic Governance Updates
1.1 Policy and Legislative Updates
On May 19, at the AI-Empowered Cyber Civilization sub-forum of the 2026 China Cyber Civilization Conference, the National Cybersecurity Standardization Technical Committee (TC260) released the Guidelines on AI Application Ethics and Safety 1.0 (hereinafter the "Guidelines"), marking the first domestic technical guidance document focusing on AI application ethics and safety.《The Guidelines》 propose nine major ethical safety principles：: first, enhancing human well-being；; second, respecting the right to life；; third, upholding fairness and justice；; fourth, reasonably controlling risks；; fifth, maintaining openness and transparency；; sixth, protecting privacy and security；; seventh, ensuring controllability and trustworthiness; eighth, agile co-governance; and ninth, inclusive sharing.
Link:https://www.cac.gov.cn/2026-05/22/c_1781191242686496.htm
2. National Data Administration Issues 2026 Digital Economy Development Work Priorities
On May 19, the National Data Administration issued the 2026 Digital Economy Development Work Priorities, deploying the following key tasks to advance high-quality digital economy development: deepening market-oriented reforms for data factor allocation, accelerating the establishment of a unified national data property rights registration system and an integrated data market; strengthening digital infrastructure foundations, advancing the construction of a nationally integrated computing power network; enhancing data empowerment for AI development by implementing six special action plans and creating benchmark high-quality datasets; improving the core competitiveness of the digital economy by cultivating digital industry clusters and innovative enterprises; promoting deep integration between the real economy and digital economy, advancing digital transformation in manufacturing and expanding the quality of the services sector; enhancing digital governance and service capabilities, advancing legislation on the Digital Economy Promotion Law; deepening international cooperation on the digital economy, exploring cross-border data flows and trusted data space construction; and fostering a favorable development environment by building a digital economy monitoring and evaluation system. The next step will be to leverage major economic scenarios as entry points, fully unleash the value of data factors, accelerate the cultivation of new quality productive forces, and empower high-quality economic development.
Link:https://www.nda.gov.cn/sjj/swdt/xwfb/0519/20260519194643007508935_pc.html
On May 22, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) held its May 2026 press conference in Beijing. Li Chao, Deputy Director of the NDRC Policy Research Office and spokesperson, attended and introduced a series of policy measures recently advanced by the NDRC, and answered media questions on topics including the "AI+" action, embodied intelligence development, macroeconomic conditions, and other hot issues. The press conference covered several policy priorities: First, systematically implementing the "AI+" action. Li Chao stated that the NDRC is planning to issue supporting documents to accelerate the implementation of "AI+", further strengthen factor support, and promote central and state-owned enterprises to open high-value application scenarios, creating industry benchmark applications and facilitating the deep integration of AI technology into production, operations, and management. Second, accelerating embodied intelligence infrastructure construction. The NDRC proposed initiatives around key infrastructure for embodied intelligence, enhancing embodied intelligence training capabilities, promoting the application of robotics technology in more scenarios, while building application pilot bases, improving software and hardware ecosystems, and advancing technological innovation and industrial integration.
Furthermore, regarding the "six networks" (water network, new-type power grid, computing power network, next-generation communications network, urban underground pipeline network, and logistics network), Li Chao stated that relevant plans and implementation programs will be issued promptly, further coordinating construction content, clarifying investment priorities across sectors, breaking down target tasks on an annual basis, strengthening funding and factor support, and making coordinated use of various government funds and new policy-based financial instruments.
Link:https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/xwdt/wszb/202605xwfbh/
On May 19, the 2026 National Digital Literacy and Skills Enhancement Month was launched at the main forum of the 2026 China Cyber Civilization Conference held in Nanning, Guangxi, jointly organized by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and other departments, spanning one month. The Enhancement Month is themed “Digital Intelligence Empowerment, Shared by All”. During the period, a series of activities will be organized, including the National Digital Literacy and Skills Enhancement Forum, the “Digital Intelligence Empowerment, Shared by All” online thematic campaign launch ceremony, AI general education activities for the whole society, AI-empowered education special action, campaigns for sharing a better digital life, digital work capability training, high-caliber digital talent development programs, AI safety standards promotion campaigns, and joint efforts to build a safe and orderly cyberspace, further advancing the popularization and application of digital intelligence technologies.
Link:https://www.cac.gov.cn/2026-05/20/c_1781017196705295.htm
5. Digital China Development Indicator System and Development Index Officially Released
On May 15, the National Data Administration issued a press announcement confirming that at the 9th Digital China Summit, guided by the National Data Administration and led by the National Data Development Research Institute in collaboration with seven other organizations, the Digital China Development Indicator System and Digital China Development Index were officially released. The indicator system encompasses 10 first-level indicators, 26 second-level indicators, and 78 third-level indicators. Using 2020 as the base period (100), the 2025 Digital China Development Index reached 170.1, with the growth rate expanding by 2.34 percentage points over the previous year, indicating an accelerating trend in Digital China construction. Monitoring and evaluation will continue to support decision-making for Digital China construction.
Link:https://www.nda.gov.cn/sjj/swdt/xwfb/0515/20260515163123164121347_pc.html
6. National Data Administration Convenes Symposium with Private Enterprises in the Data Sector
On May 19, Liu Liehong, Director of the National Data Administration, chaired a symposium with private enterprises in the data sector, engaging in in-depth discussions with representatives from 10 private companies including Allchina Info and Ctrip, and soliciting opinions and suggestions on promoting high-quality digital economy development and strengthening data empowerment for AI innovation during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period. Participating enterprises noted that as market-oriented reforms of data factors deepen, with accelerated progress in public data development and utilization and national data infrastructure construction, new opportunities are emerging for private enterprises. Liu Liehong stated that efforts will focus on four areas: cultivating and expanding innovative data enterprises, supporting companies in enhancing core technologies and scenario implementation capabilities; balancing development and security, removing circulation bottlenecks; deepening the development and utilization of public and enterprise data, supporting private enterprises in participating in data product development; and strengthening financing support and policy coordination, supporting private enterprises in participating in standard development, pilot programs, and trials, fostering a favorable development environment.
Link:https://www.nda.gov.cn/sjj/jgsz/jld/xb/xbldhd/0522/20260522211957982870922_pc.html
7. Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Government Issues Policies to Promote High-Quality Development of Data and AI Industries
On May 18, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region issued policies to promote the high-quality development of data and AI industries, proposing support measures across areas including data authorization and application, compliant trading, application demonstrations, and talent recruitment and cultivation. Key measures include: formulating open catalogs for public data resources, orderly opening data in key sectors through the autonomous region's public data open platform, annually authorizing three enterprises to conduct public data operations, and providing one-time awards of RMB 2 million for cases recognized as national-level data annotation, industry high-quality datasets, or trusted data space exemplary cases; advancing the construction of autonomous region-level data trading venues and circulation markets, providing subsidies at 20% of the contract amount exceeding RMB 200,000 for enterprises purchasing public data, datasets, corpora, models, and other data products (up to RMB 2 million per enterprise per year); carrying out“"Data Factor ×"”“"AI+"”initiatives, releasing application scenario demand lists in batches across sectors including electric power and energy, industrial manufacturing, modern agriculture and animal husbandry, biomedicine, and ecological environment, with plans to select and award more than 10 benchmark enterprises for industrial digital-intelligent transformation with a one-time award of RMB 2 million each from 2026 to 2028.
1.2 Law Enforcement and Judicial Updates
1. MIIT Reports Apps Infringing on User Rights
5May 21, MIIT reported apps (SDKs) that infringe on user rights. After organizing third-party testing agencies to conduct spot checks, a total of 31 apps and SDKs were found to have behaviors infringing on user rights, including redirecting upon clicking information windows; illegally collecting personal information; forcing, frequently, or excessively requesting permissions; forcing users to use targeted push functions; providing unauthorized auto-renewal services; and redirecting upon sliding information windows.
Link: https://www.miit.gov.cn/xwfb/gxdt/sjdt/art/2026/art_720149eef58649cabb912793bc7922cf.html
1.3 International Cooperation Updates
On May 18, the 2026 Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit, hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), was held in Beijing. Over 800 participants attended, including foreign government representatives, trade promotion agencies, business associations, ambassadors, international organization representatives, and Chinese and foreign enterprise representatives from 51 countries and regions. The summit featured a parallel forum themed "AI Empowering Global Economic and Trade Cooperation," discussing cutting-edge topics such as how intelligent technologies enhance trade efficiency and issues of data governance and the digital divide. The 2026 Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit Beijing Initiative was released on behalf of the participating business community, with the third point advocating the use of AI to empower economic and trade cooperation and jointly build a new ecosystem for digital-intelligent development.
Link:https://www.cabis.gov.cn/html/2026/fenghuijiaodian_0519/2497.html
2. China and the U.S. Agree to Launch Inter-Governmental AI Dialogue
According to Xinhua News Agency on May 19, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated at a regular press conference that as two major AI nations, China and the United States should work together to promote AI development and governance, advancing AI to better serve human civilization progress and the common well-being of the international community. During U.S. President Trump's visit to China, the leaders of the two countries held constructive exchanges on AI issues and agreed to launch inter-governmental AI dialogue.
Link:https://www.news.cn/world/20260519/883ac1ee99c74a8fa2441da4d4b40e96/c.html
3. China and Russia Propose Deeper Cooperation in AI and Other Digital Fields
On May 19-20, Russian President Putin paid a state visit to the People's Republic of China. The two countries issued the Joint Statement on Further Strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination and Deepening Good-Neighborly Cooperation. The statement noted that both sides recognize AI technology as one of the main factors significantly impacting the speed and quality of economic and social transformation, and are willing to promote the benevolent and inclusive development of AI, opposing individual countries from using AI as a geopolitical tool to maintain hegemonic positions. Both sides support strengthening international cooperation in the AI field, unlocking the dividends of intelligent development, and addressing potential risks and challenges related to AI. Russia welcomes China's initiative to establish the World AI Cooperation Organization. Both sides reiterated their commitment to further cooperation on the military application of AI technology within bilateral and multilateral frameworks such as the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. Both sides are willing to coordinate positions on AI-related scientific issues through international organization platforms.
Link:https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202605/content_7069789.htm
4. 2026 APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting Held in Suzhou
On May 22-23, the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Trade Ministers' Meeting was held in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. This meeting was a key event of the APEC China Year, with Vice Premier He Lifeng attending and delivering remarks, and Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao chairing the meeting. Participants discussed topics including advancing regional economic integration, building the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the WTO, strengthening digital cooperation, and developing the green economy. The meeting issued the Suzhou Statement and reached the APEC Roadmap for Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Services. All parties reaffirmed their support for building the FTAAP, WTO reform, extending the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, and advancing investment facilitation and incorporating e-commerce agreements into the WTO framework. On digital cooperation, commitments were made to strengthen cooperation on paperless trade, cross-border e-commerce, and AI, promoting cross-border mutual recognition of electronic trade documents and cross-border data flows. Green trade development initiatives were also explored, deepening cooperation on environmental services.
Link:https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/xwfb/rcxwfb/art/2026/art_420906b502c24be68b800620817a2621.html
1.4 Research Updates
1. CAICT Releases "Research Report on AI Empowering the Marine Industry"
On May 18, the AI Research Institute of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), together with the China AI Industry Development Alliance, released the Research Report on AI Empowering the Marine Industry. The report consists of five parts: first, elaborating on the development background and conceptual definition of AI empowerment for the marine industry; second, comprehensively analyzing current development conditions across three dimensions of the upstream, midstream, and downstream AI-empowered marine industry chain; third, providing in-depth analysis of the convergence points between AI and the marine industry across nine key sectors—marine fisheries, transportation, oil and gas, electric power, shipbuilding, engineering equipment manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and bioproducts, scientific research and education, and public administration services—while systematically compiling representative practical cases; fourth, identifying core challenges and major opportunities facing "AI + Marine" development; and fifth, providing an outlook on future development trends and proposing corresponding development recommendations.
Link:https://www.caict.ac.cn/kxyj/qwfb/ztbg/202605/P020260518378621576023.pdf
2. CAICT Releases "Research Report on AI Model-Data Resonance System"
On May 19, the AI Research Institute of CAICT, together with CRRC Industrial Research Institute Co., Ltd., released the Research Report on AI Model-Data Resonance System. The report presents five key findings: first, establishing collaborative linkage and closed-loop iteration mechanisms for data quality improvement, model optimization, and application feedback to achieve dynamic data adaptation to model requirements and model output feeding back into data quality improvement is necessary at both the technology and industry levels; second, the AI model-data resonance system, through three core elements—high-quality datasets, high-efficiency models, and high-value applications—constructs a closed-loop ecosystem of "data driving model evolution, models empowering scenario implementation, scenarios feeding back data iteration"; third,strengtheningdataset design and construction, dataset quality evaluation, model fine-tuning and optimization, model performance benchmarking, and data augmentation and optimization constitute the five capability supports for model-data resonance; fourth, establishing model-data association mapping relationships, innovating model-data closed-loop iteration capability mechanisms, and building model self-adaptive performance testing systems mutually promote and enhance each other, technically constructing an effective methodology for high-quality dataset construction and dynamic model optimization iteration；; fifth, to promote the implementation of model-data resonance, efforts should be made to coordinate the advancement of industry dataset construction and model optimization, continuously improve model performance evaluation capability mechanisms, explore the establishment of model-data resonance ecosystem collaborative mechanisms, and strengthen key factor support for model-data resonance.
Link:https://www.caict.ac.cn/kxyj/qwfb/ztbg/202605/P020260519549935246969.pdf
3. CAICT Releases "DPU Development Analysis Report (2026)"
On May 18, CAICT released the DPU Development Analysis Report (2026). The report, grounded in industrial development, systematically reviews the development background, industry dynamics, and market environment of Data Processing Units (DPUs), assesses future trends, and proposes targeted recommendations, presenting the full picture of global and domestic DPU industry development to provide references for policy formulation, technology R&D, and ecosystem construction.
Link: https://www.caict.ac.cn/kxyj/qwfb/ztbg/202605/t20260518_723549.htm
（五） Industry Updates
1. High-Quality Dataset Construction On-Site Meeting Held in Guangzhou
On May 19, the High-Quality Dataset Construction On-Site Meeting was held in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. Liu Liehong, Director of the National Data Administration, attended and delivered remarks, with Deputy Director Xia Bing chairing the meeting. The meeting reviewed the progress and achievements of high-quality dataset construction, with presentations from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the Guangdong Provincial Government Services and Data Administration, the China Aerospace Science and Technology System and Innovation Research Institute, China National Petroleum Corporation, and Alibaba Group, focusing on dataset construction, application, evaluation, and model-data resonance.
The meeting identified six action plans for the next phase: the Foundation Strengthening and Capacity Expansion Action focusing on expanding supply scale in key sectors; the Annotation Campaign developing human-machine collaborative intelligent annotation; the Quality Enhancement and Efficiency Action creating high-quality datasets meeting AI-Ready requirements; the Application Empowerment Action building a "scenario-driven data, data-driven model, model-empowered application, application-creating value" data flywheel; the Management and Service Action establishing a full-lifecycle management system and a "physically distributed, logically centralized" resource catalog; and the Value Release Action exploring a token-based data value system and cultivating market consensus on "paying for high-quality data." During the meeting, participants conducted field visits to the Guangzhou Internet Court, Pazhou Mofang, Guangzhou Laboratory, and GAC Group.
Link:https://www.nda.gov.cn/sjj/jgsz/jld/llh/llhldhd/0520/20260520165240927715185_pc.html
On May 23, the International Forum on High-Performance Computing and AI Collaborative Innovation (HACI 2026) opened in Shenzhen. Supported by the Shenzhen Municipal Science and Technology Innovation Bureau, the forum was hosted by Sun Yat-sen University, co-organized by Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, and organized by the National Supercomputing Center Guangzhou and Shenzhen Center, with CAS Academician Qian Depei serving as conference chair. Over 400 top-tier academicians, experts, and industry leaders from more than ten countries and regions gathered to explore cutting-edge technologies and innovation pathways across eight core topics, including next-generation HPC+AI system architecture, advanced storage, high-performance interconnection, post-Moore and quantum computing system software, and novel machine learning algorithms.
Link:https://www.nfnews.com/content/LozBZ1zWon.html
On May 22-24, the Second International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Ethics (ICAIDE 2026) was held online in Singapore. The conference was organized by Guangzhou Nanfang College as lead organizer，. CAS Academician Tang Tao, President of Nanfang College, served as Honorary Chair, with scholars from Guangdong University of Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, South China University of Technology, Cleveland State University in the USA, and other institutions serving as Technical Program Committee chairs. The conference featured two main topic tracks—AI and digital ethics—with a focus on frontier topics including algorithmic bias, data privacy, AI's impact on employment, and the ethical frameworks needed for responsible AI development, bringing together researchers and practitioners from academia, industry, and the policy sector for in-depth exchanges through keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops. The conference aims to advance a deeper understanding of digital ethics, explore challenges and opportunities at the intersection of technology and morality, and contribute to building a sustainable future.
Link:https://www.aischolar.com/conference/icaide2026
II. International Governance Updates
2.1 Policy and Legislative Updates
1. Trump Administration Delays Signing AI Executive Order
According to Reuters on May 21, U.S. President Trump had originally planned to sign a new AI executive order on Thursday, but abruptly cancelled the ceremony hours before the White House event was to take place，. The reason was concern that the measure would undermine America's leading position in the AI field. According to informed sources, the executive order would have established a framework for government assessment of national security risks posed by the most advanced AI systems before their public release. The report noted that there are clear divisions within the White House on AI regulation, with some factions advocating "mandatory review" and others advocating "laissez-faire development," resulting in oscillating policy positions.
2. Japanese Government Convenes First Cross-Ministerial Meeting to Address High-Performance AI Risks
According to Asahi Shimbun on May 18 report, the Japanese government convened its first cross-ministerial meeting to formulate a policy framework for addressing high-performance AI risks, specifically targeting advanced AI models that could potentially be used for cyberattacks and other risks, such as "Claude Mythos." The government plans to strengthen collaboration between government and private sector in critical infrastructure, enabling AI to be used both for identifying and fixing system vulnerabilities while preventing malicious exploitation of the technology. The meeting emphasized that the government will collaborate with key industries including telecommunications and energy to advance joint government-private defense mechanisms and enhance overall cybersecurity defense capabilities.
Link: https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASV5L3CWPV5LUTFK017M.html
3. Brazil Issues Digital Platform Governance Decree
On May 21, the Brazilian government published two digital governance decrees signed by President Lula in a special edition of the Federal Official Gazette, covering updates to the supporting rules of the Internet Civil Framework (Marco Civil da Internet) and digital safety protections for women, taking effect 60 days after publication. This revision was directly prompted by the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court's 2025 ruling that Article 19 of the Internet Civil Framework was partially unconstitutional, pushing platform liability rules from "liability only after judicial order" toward "action required upon notification."
The decree covers three core areas: First, regarding illegal content governance, platforms must establish permanent, easily accessible reporting channels and adopt preventive and mitigation measures against the spread of illegal content including terrorism, child and adolescent sexual exploitation, human trafficking, violence against women, and electronic fraud. Platforms must remove relevant content upon notification without waiting for a judicial order. Additionally, platforms must establish offices and legal representatives in Brazil. Second, regarding transparency and data retention, platforms must retain necessary technical records to assist law enforcement in identifying the sources of illegal activities while complying with personal data protection and communication secrecy rules. For advertising and paid promotion, platforms must adopt measures to prevent illegal content placement and retain advertiser and advertisement information. The decree simultaneously grants regulatory enforcement authority to the Brazilian National Data Protection Authority (ANPD), making it responsible for regulating, supervising, and prosecuting violations of the decree's obligations. Third, regarding women's digital safety, platforms must establish rapid response mechanisms for the unauthorized distribution of intimate content. Upon notification by the victim or their representative, platforms must take down the relevant content within a short timeframe and adopt measures such as digital marking to prevent re-upload. The use of AI to generate or modify intimate content of others is also covered under the governance framework.
Link: https://www.gov.br/casacivil/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/2026/maio/governo-do-brasil-publica-decretos-que-atualizam-regras-do-marco-civil-da-internet-e-reforca-protecao-as-mulheres-no-ambiente-digital
2.2 Law Enforcement and Judicial Updates
On May 20, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent warning letters to 12 websites offering AI undressing tools, reminding them of their obligations under the TAKE IT DOWN Act (TIDA). The law entered its enforcement phase on May 19, 2026.
The FTC noted that such websites use AI or image processing technology to convert clothed photographs into non-consensual sexualized images, constituting a serious privacy violation. The warning letters pointed out that the relevant platforms failed to provide users with a mechanism for requesting the removal of non-consensual intimate images as required by law, potentially violating TIDA provisions. The FTC demanded that these companies achieve compliance immediately, deleting relevant content and known identical copies within 48 hours of receiving a valid request. Platforms that fail to comply may face FTC enforcement action, with civil penalties of up to $53,088 per violation.
The previous week, the FTC had already sent letters to Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok, X, and over a dozen other major technology platforms, reminding them to complete TIDA compliance work by May 19. The FTC simultaneously launched the TakeItDown.ftc.gov complaint website for victims to submit removal requests.
On May 21, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it was requiring Cox Media Group (CMG) and two marketing companies, MindSift LLC and 1010 Digital Works LLC, to pay a combined total of approximately $930,000 to settle false advertising charges surrounding“ Active Listening” AI advertising services.
The FTC investigation found that beginning in 2023, CMG promoted an advertising targeting service called“Active Listening” to local small businesses through presentations, website materials, and sales pitches, claiming the service could monitor consumer conversations in real-time through smart devices and precisely deliver local advertisements when consumers discussed specific products or services, while also claiming that consumers had consented to such data use. The FTC determined that every core element of these claims was false—the service did not actually monitor consumer conversations, did not use any voice data whatsoever, and the companies could not demonstrate that consumers had given valid consent to any voice monitoring-based ad targeting.
2.3 International Cooperation Updates
1.India and Italy Strengthen Cooperation in AI and Other Sci-Tech Innovation Fields
On May 19-20, the Indian Prime Minister paid a state visit to Italy, and the two countries issued a joint statement. Both sides announced the establishment of an innovation center in India to strengthen cooperation in sci-tech innovation and talent mobility. The leaders of both countries emphasized the importance of an open, free, secure, stable, accessible, and peaceful ICT environment for innovation and economic growth, and reaffirmed their commitment to human-centered, safe, trustworthy, and robust AI. Both sides agreed to cooperate in the field of AI, with particular emphasis on collaboration in supercomputing.
2.U.S. Department of State Hosts Inaugural U.S.-ASEAN AI Ministerial Meeting
On May 20, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jacob Helberg convened the inaugural U.S.-ASEAN AI Ministerial Meeting in Singapore. Helberg outlined U.S. efforts to build a network of trusted partners to secure global technology supply chains, promote joint investment in Southeast Asia, and address both opportunities and vulnerabilities related to AI. Participants exchanged views on opportunities to strengthen cooperation in AI development and governance, including how U.S. AI export plans can support ASEAN member states' AI policy formulation. Both sides exchanged views on deepening U.S.-ASEAN cooperation in AI R&D and deployment, including supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises to drive economic growth and innovation.
3. Canada and Spain Sign AI Cooperation Memorandum
On May 20, during the visit of King Felipe VI of Spain to Canada, Spanish First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Trade and Enterprise Carlos Cuerpo and Canadian Minister of AI and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon jointly signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of AI. The memorandum establishes a framework for promoting AI cooperation, including providing access to computing capacity, promoting the adoption of AI and technology, and deepening connections between governments, industry, and other stakeholders. The memorandum also supports the safe and responsible development and use of AI technologies that boost productivity and drive economic growth, covering key sectors of the economy.
At the same time, Canadian company Cohere signed two cooperation agreements with Spanish quantum computing company Multiverse Computing and European tech group Indra respectively, and Multiverse also reached a third agreement with Canadian software company Coveo to jointly carry out technology projects. Spain stated that AI will be a key lever for future competitiveness and economic sovereignty, and the two countries will jointly build a technology cooperation model based on trust, security, and shared interests. Canada emphasized that international partnerships are essential for safely and responsibly shaping AI development.
According to Kyodo News on May 20, the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting was held on May 18-19 in Paris, France, and adopted a joint statement. All parties unanimously agreed to compile specific response measures before the June G7 Summit to address cyberattacks launched through the misuse of frontier AI such as Anthropic's“Claude Mythos” products, emphasizing enhanced information sharing and risk assessment in light of frontier AI advances; the statement also proposed building resilient and diversified critical mineral supply chains through expanded investment and recycling, and expressed concerns about indiscriminate export controls.
Link:https://china.kyodonews.net/articles/-/10557
5. United States and Sweden Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Technology
On May 22, the United States and Sweden jointly issued a memorandum of understanding on the Technology Prosperity Agreement. The memorandum states that the two countries will deepen cooperation to advance next-generation AI and cyber technologies, promoting the development and adoption of a trusted technology stack including AI and cyber technologies. The two countries will promote safe AI innovation across industries and academia through exploring joint research in AI applications for advanced manufacturing, materials, and production technologies, while advancing the strategic application of critical infrastructure, defense and AI.
6. Inaugural Singapore-Japan Digital Cooperation Dialogue Held in Singapore
On May 19, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan and Singapore's Ministry of Digital Development and Information held the inaugural Singapore-Japan Digital Cooperation Dialogue in Singapore. The Japanese delegation was led by Takuro Imagawa, Vice-Minister for International Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, while the Singapore side was represented by Foo Qi Xia, Second Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, along with representatives from the Infocomm Media Development Authority and other relevant agencies. Both sides held in-depth discussions on topics including digital infrastructure, online safety, quantum security technology, AI, and other ICT-related issues, and reached consensus on jointly advancing bilateral policy cooperation. At the meeting, enterprise representatives from both countries also presented cooperative projects and latest technological achievements, with both sides confirming their commitment to promoting government-private sector collaboration and further deepening bilateral cooperation.
Link:https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/joho_tsusin/eng/pressrelease/2026/5/22_1.html
2.4 Industry Updates
1. North America AI & Big Data Expo Held in San Jose, USA
May 18-19，, the AI & Big Data Expo North America was held in San Jose, California, USA. This edition of the expo brought together over 8,000 industry professionals, more than 250 speakers, and over 250 exhibitors, focusing on core topics including generative AI, autonomous intelligent systems, AI governance, and enterprise infrastructure, driving AI from pilot projects to scaled operational deployment. The event featured multiple thematic forums covering AI strategy and enterprise transformation, large-scale data platforms and value extraction, enterprise AI implementation and ROI, AI Developer Day, and Physical AI. Senior executives from globally renowned companies including NVIDIA, IBM, Qualcomm, HPE, Deloitte, SAP, eBay, and Marriott delivered presentations.
Link:https://www.ai-expo.net/northamerica/
