South Korea's AI Squid Game, UAE's AI Partnership, and US AI Education Bill - AI Policy Brief #53
January 27, 2026 -
AI Policy Brief
Hi there,
Welcome to this week's edition of the AI Policy Brief, your go-to source for the latest developments in AI regulations, safety standards, and government policies worldwide. This week, we're covering a range of topics that highlight the global efforts to navigate the complex landscape of artificial intelligence. From the EU's introduction of the AI Act aimed at ensuring regulation and safety, to Singapore's significant investment of S$1 billion in AI research and development, these stories underscore the growing importance of AI governance.
In the United States, the House has approved an AI education bill designed to support small businesses, while the White House advisor has recognized the UAE and G42 as key partners in AI advancements. Meanwhile, the UK Treasury Committee has issued a warning about the risks AI poses to the financial sector. These stories, among others, reflect the diverse approaches and challenges faced by nations as they strive to harness the potential of AI responsibly.
Welcome to this week's edition of the AI Policy Brief, your go-to source for the latest developments in AI regulations, safety standards, and government policies worldwide. This week, we're covering a range of topics that highlight the global efforts to navigate the complex landscape of artificial intelligence. From the EU's introduction of the AI Act aimed at ensuring regulation and safety, to Singapore's significant investment of S$1 billion in AI research and development, these stories underscore the growing importance of AI governance.
In the United States, the House has approved an AI education bill designed to support small businesses, while the White House advisor has recognized the UAE and G42 as key partners in AI advancements. Meanwhile, the UK Treasury Committee has issued a warning about the risks AI poses to the financial sector. These stories, among others, reflect the diverse approaches and challenges faced by nations as they strive to harness the potential of AI responsibly.
South Korea Launches AI Squid Game Competition
The South Korean government has started a competition called 'AI Squid Game' to find the best local AI foundation models. This initiative aims to enhance the country's position in AI technology globally. Read more
UAE and G42 Highlighted as Key AI Partners by White House Advisor
At the World Economic Forum, White House AI Advisor David Sacks recognized the UAE and G42 as essential partners in boosting U.S. AI competitiveness, emphasizing the importance of ecosystem partnerships and infrastructure readiness. Read more
U.S. House Approves AI Education Bill for Small Businesses
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the AI for Main Street Act, which aims to improve AI education for small businesses by utilizing Small Business Development Centers. Read more
HackerOne Introduces AI Research Safe Harbor Framework
On January 20, 2026, HackerOne announced a new framework to provide legal protections for researchers testing AI systems responsibly, aiming to reduce legal uncertainties and enhance collaboration. Read more
Treasury Committee Warns of AI Risks in UK Finance
The Treasury Select Committee has issued a report cautioning that the current use of AI in financial services may endanger consumers and the financial system. It recommends AI-specific stress-testing and enhanced oversight of critical AI and cloud providers. Read more
EU Introduces AI Act for Regulation and Safety
The European Union has announced the AI Act, a regulatory framework to oversee AI systems, focusing on safety and rights across member states. Read more
Zango Appoints Santander COO to Advisory Board
Zango, a UK-based start-up, has appointed Dean Nash, the global COO (legal) of Santander, to its advisory board as part of a research initiative on AI governance in financial services. Read more
Swiss AI Academy Introduces Bionic Context Protocol
The Swiss AI Academy has launched the Bionic Context Protocol, a framework designed to ensure human oversight in the expanding field of AI technology. Read more
Anthropic CEO Criticizes US Chip Export Policy
At the World Economic Forum, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei expressed concerns over the US government's approval of Nvidia's chip sales to China, citing national security risks. Read more
e& and IBM Collaborate on AI for Governance
Global technology group e& and IBM have announced a collaboration to implement AI solutions for governance and compliance, utilizing IBM watsonx Orchestrate. Read more
Salesforce CEO Advocates for AI Regulation at WEF
At the World Economic Forum, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff highlighted the necessity for AI regulation, citing safety concerns and linking AI to suicide cases. Read more
OpenAI Adds Age Prediction to ChatGPT for Safety
In response to concerns about AI's impact on minors, OpenAI has introduced an age prediction feature in ChatGPT to identify users under 18 and restrict content accordingly. Read more
Armilla AI Secures $25 Million for AI Liability Coverage Expansion
Armilla AI, a US-based InsurTech, has raised $25 million to expand its insurance offerings to cover risks associated with generative AI, including regulatory violations and data leakage. Read more
Singapore to Invest S$1 Billion in AI R&D Plan
The government of Singapore plans to allocate over S$1 billion to its National AI Research and Development Plan from 2025 to 2030, focusing on enhancing AI research capabilities and supporting the National AI Strategy 2.0. Read more
EU Proposes Cybersecurity Act 2 for AI
The European Commission has introduced the Cybersecurity Act 2, focusing on new supply chain rules to bolster cybersecurity in the EU, with a significant impact on AI systems. Read more
VA AI Tools Lack Safety Oversight, Report Finds
A report from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General reveals insufficient oversight for AI tools in veterans' health care, posing potential patient safety risks. Read more
Stanford and Swiss AI Institutes Partner for Human-Centered AI
The Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI and the Swiss National AI Institute have agreed to collaborate on open-source AI models that emphasize societal values, aiming to boost academia's role in AI research and education. Read more
India's AI Governance White Paper Released
The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India has published a White Paper outlining a strategy for a trusted AI ecosystem through a techno-legal governance model. Read more
Meta Halts Teen Access to AI Characters
Meta has paused teen access to its AI characters globally as it readies a new version with enhanced parental controls, amid legal scrutiny over minor protection. Read more
Singapore Introduces AI Governance Framework
Singapore has launched the Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI to ensure safe deployment of AI systems with independent reasoning and action capabilities. Read more
US House Committee to Vote on AI Chip Export Control
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee is preparing to vote on the AI Overwatch Act, which seeks to give Congress the power to review and block licenses for exporting advanced AI chips, like Nvidia's H200, to countries such as China. Read more
Korean Government Investigates xAI's Grok Chatbot
The Korean government is investigating xAI's Grok chatbot for its alleged role in generating and distributing sexually exploitative deepfake images. The Personal Information Protection Commission is conducting a preliminary review to assess potential violations. Read more
CBA Publishes White Paper on AI in Consumer Payments
The Consumer Bankers Association has released a white paper examining the impact of agentic AI on consumer payments, urging early discussions among industry and policymakers to address associated risks. Read more
House Committee Discusses Cyber, Drone, and AI Threats
The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security convened to examine the increasing risks from cyber attacks, drones, and AI to transportation and infrastructure, with insights from CISA and TSA officials. Read more
UK Appoints AI Champions from Starling and Lloyds
The UK government has appointed Harriet Rees from Starling Bank and Dr. Rohit Dhawan from Lloyds Banking Group as AI Champions to promote AI adoption in the financial sector. Read more
EU Commission to Initiate Proceedings Against Grok
The EU Commission is set to start proceedings against Grok, an AI chatbot by xAI, aiming to have it withdrawn from the EU market. Read more
BeyondTrust Expands Platform to Tackle AI Threats
BeyondTrust has expanded its Pathfinder Platform to the UAE, India, Singapore, and South Africa to combat cybersecurity threats from agentic AI and machine identities, aiming to enhance security and regulatory compliance. Read more
VirtualCrime Sandbox Evaluates LLMs' Criminal Potential
Researchers from Shanghai Qi Zhi Institute and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen have developed VirtualCrime, a framework to test the criminal capabilities of large language models across various tasks. Read more
Quebec Introduces AI Guidelines for Civil Service
Quebec's Ministry of Cybersecurity and Digital Technology has set new guidelines for using generative AI in public administration, focusing on data protection and governance. Read more
Beijing Leads China in AI Model Registrations
Beijing municipality has the highest number of registered AI models in China, as reported by Mayor Yin Yong. The city boasts 183 large AI models and over 2,500 AI firms, contributing to significant economic growth. Read more
Snap Faces Lawsuit Over AI Training with YouTube Videos
A group of YouTubers has filed a lawsuit against Snap for allegedly using their videos without permission to train AI models. The plaintiffs claim that Snap violated copyright laws and are seeking damages and an injunction. Read more
Trump Administration to Use Google AI for Regulations
The Trump administration plans to use Google Gemini AI to draft federal regulations at the Department of Transportation, aiming to expedite the regulatory process. Read more
Fraport AG and German Police Launch AI Security System
Fraport AG, in collaboration with the German Federal Police, has introduced the APIDS at Frankfurt Airport. This AI system enhances security by detecting prohibited items in carry-on luggage and has received national certification. Read more
ECOWAS Unveils Digital Roadmap for AI Governance
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has introduced a digital roadmap to boost economic growth and establish a Regional Digital Single Market, including a framework for AI governance. Read more
Beijing Plans Major AI Computing Expansion by 2027
Beijing has announced plans to reach a computing capacity of 200,000 petaflops by 2027 to support AI and digital industry growth. The initiative includes creating a cross-regional computing supply system and developing large-scale computing clusters in Hebei Province and Tianjin Municipality. Read more
Congressman Blake Moore Proposes AI Bill for Federal Regulations
Congressman Blake Moore has introduced a bill to use AI for identifying and removing outdated federal regulations, aiming to streamline the Code of Federal Regulations. Read more
Wisconsin Proposes AI Safety Bill for Minors
Representative Alex Joers from Wisconsin has introduced a bill to enhance safety for minors on social media by mandating stronger privacy protections and limiting adult interactions. Read more
Senate Democrats Call for AI Debt Risk Investigation
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats are urging the Financial Stability Oversight Council to examine the risks of over $1 trillion in AI infrastructure debt, warning of potential financial instability. Read more
UK Government Funds AI Supercomputer Expansion at Cambridge
The UK government is allocating £36 million to significantly boost the AI supercomputing capacity at the University of Cambridge by six times by 2026. This initiative aims to provide advanced AI resources for researchers and start-ups, focusing on healthcare and environmental advancements. Read more
Andesite Receives FedRAMP High 'In Process' Designation
Andesite has achieved the FedRAMP High Impact Level 'In Process' designation, marking its entry into the federal marketplace and commitment to securing federal assets. Read more
Fatagora Receives Investment and Joins Global TIPS Program
AI fact-checking startup Fatagora has received strategic investment from Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, Asia2G Capital, and Plug and Play. The company is also joining the Global TIPS program to expand internationally. Read more
IntelliGRC Completes FedRAMP Moderate Security Assessment
IntelliGRC has completed a FedRAMP Moderate Equivalency security assessment for its SaaS platform, enhancing its cybersecurity credentials. The assessment, conducted by A-LIGN, confirms the platform's compliance with stringent security standards. Read more
LatticeFlow AI Acquires AI Sonar Ltd for AI Governance
At the World Economic Forum, LatticeFlow AI announced its acquisition of AI Sonar Ltd to enhance its AI governance solutions, integrating AI Sonar's platform and team into its operations. Read more
Utah Lawmaker Proposes AI Regulation for Child Safety
Utah Representative Doug Fiefia has introduced legislation to regulate AI interactions with children, focusing on safety measures and restrictions on inappropriate chatbot conversations. Read more
Tech Workers Urge CEOs to Oppose ICE After Deaths
Over 450 tech workers from companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon have signed a letter urging their CEOs to oppose ICE operations following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Read more
Global Labor Market Conference 2026 Sets AI Governance Priorities
The Global Labor Market Conference 2026 in Riyadh concluded with labor ministers agreeing on six key actions for AI governance and workforce development. Read more
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