Since 2017, when Canada became the first country to adopt a national AI strategy, at least 60 countries have adopted some form of policy for artificial intelligence (AI). The prospect of an estimated boost of 16 percent, or US$13 trillion, to global output by 2030 has led to an unprecedented race to promote AI uptake across industry, consumer markets, and government services. Global corporate investment in AI has reportedly reached US$60 billion in 2020 and is projected to more than double by 2025. At the same time, the work on developing global standards for AI has led to significant developments in various international bodies. These encompass both technical aspects of AI (in standards development organizations (SDOs) such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) among others) and the ethical and policy dimensions of responsible AI.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – The leaders of the United Nations and the African Union urged stronger international cooperation at the opening Sunday of the African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

African Union Commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat warned against the "rise of national egoism," which some took as a veiled reference to U.S. President Donald Trump. He urged South Sudan's warring factions to reach a peace agreement or risk African Union sanctions. Mahamat also urged Congo to hold elections later this year, according to schedule.

Speaking Friday at a cybersecurity conference in Moscow, Putin said it's important to develop common cybersecurity standards that take into account interests of all nations. He noted that cyberthreats have mounted around the world.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis has asked Germany to keep fighting for the Paris climate change deal and to'tear down walls' that inhibit international cooperation, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday, offering a stark contrast between her agenda and U.S. policy.