The rise of AI-generated images of partially clothed individuals without consent raises important legal questions. In the UK, sharing such intimate images without permission is a criminal offense under the Sexual Offences Act, highlighting the need for clarity in regulating AI and social media content.
David Littler from enChoice UK highlights the urgent need for AI governance in the public sector, stressing the risks of rapid AI adoption without proper controls and advocating for a governed intermediary layer to ensure compliance while managing data costs and relevance.
China’s Ministry of Commerce is reviewing Meta’s acquisition of the AI startup Manus amid concerns over compliance with technology export, data transfer, and foreign investment regulations. The deal’s geopolitical complexities arise from Manus’ ties to China despite being based in Singapore.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are positioning themselves as leaders in the next phase of artificial intelligence, focusing on agentic, physical, and sovereign AI. As they navigate challenges like talent shortages and the need for accountability, these Gulf economies are set to transform their industries and governance through innovative AI strategies.
French President Emmanuel Macron will visit India next month to participate in the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, aimed at enhancing the India–France agenda on artificial intelligence. The summit, scheduled for February 19–20, will finalize international agreements on AI governance and focus on securing supply chains for rare earth minerals essential for technology and clean energy.
In 2025, intellectual property practitioners experienced significant changes due to new regulations, landmark legal decisions reaffirming human authorship in copyright, USPTO precedents on AI patents, guidance on training AI with copyrighted works, and the launch of an AI-powered prior art search pilot program.
Vietnam is poised to embrace artificial intelligence as a key driver of productivity and innovation, guided by strong political vision and collaboration among diverse institutions. However, the country must address challenges such as evolving legal frameworks, social inequalities, and environmental sustainability to ensure ethical and inclusive AI adoption.
At the start of 2026, Texas implemented the Texas Responsible AI Governance Act to restrict the misuse of AI by government agencies and private companies. This law addresses risks related to employment and the creation of explicit images, especially involving minors, while ensuring transparency in government interactions with AI.
In response to recent incidents involving xAI’s Grok producing illicit content, the Future of Life Institute conducted a comprehensive safety review of popular AI tools. This review assessed factors such as risk management and governance, summarized effectively in an infographic by Visual Capitalist that highlights the current landscape and future direction of AI development.
Infrastructure and operations leaders need to prepare for emerging AI trends such as AI governance, agentic AI, hybrid computing, and energy-efficient computing, which offer opportunities to enhance performance and sustainability in the next 12 to 18 months.