Welcome to the March 2025 edition of Pulse, where we bring you the latest insights and updates on the evolving landscape of AI, data science, policy, and global innovation. This issue shines a spotlight on pivotal advancements in AI governance, celebrates the strides of our vibrant community, and uncovers fresh opportunities at the crossroads of technology and public benefit. Let’s dive into the latest updates shaping our world.
Key Global Developments in AI, Data, and Policy
- U.S. Debate: President Trump’s criticism of the $52.7 billion CHIPS and Science Act has sparked a heated discussion, weighing the advantages of debt reduction against the need for technological investments.
- Europe’s Ethical Stance: The third draft of the AI Code of Practice highlights Europe’s commitment to ethical AI, and Airbus urging the European Commission to support local technology providers.
- Global Momentum: China is introducing mandatory labelling for AI-generated content, Japan is enhancing its AI ethical framework, and Kazakhstan is prioritising human oversight—clear signs that the global landscape is rapidly shifting toward smarter, more principled AI governance.
Recent Insights from Data for Policy CIC
- Canada’s New Strategy for AI in Public Service and Emerging Trends in Asia’s AI Landscape: Canada’s 2025–2027 AI Strategy sets a benchmark for responsible AI in government, prioritising human-centred design, innovation, capacity building, and governance to enhance services while safeguarding rights. In Asia, Japan adopts market-friendly AI guidelines, China balances investment with control, and Taiwan leverages AI for industrial advantage.
- Registration Now Open for Data for Policy 2025 (DfP’25) – Europe: The Data for Policy 2025 Europe Edition (12-13 June, Leiden University, The Hague) is fast approaching! In partnership with TNO and the Centre for Bold Cities, we will explore AI and data’s role in digital and green transitions. Register early to be part of this vital dialogue.
- New Paper: The Algorithmic State Architecture (ASA) – An Integrated Framework for AI-Enabled Government: Published in March 2025, this preprint by Dr. Zeynep Engin (UCL) with Profs Jon Crowcroft, David Hand, and Philip Treleaven introduces the ASA framework. Its four-layer model—Digital Public Infrastructure, Data-for-Policy, Algorithmic Government, and GovTech—provides a roadmap for AI in governance.
- AI’s New Rules: EU AI Act & AI Action Summit Decoded: On 26 February, 2025, Data for Policy’s Fireside Chat with Profs Lilian Edwards (Newcastle University) and Jon Crowcroft (University of Cambridge) unpacked the EU AI Act’s risk-based approach, competition dynamics, and geopolitics. Highlights include regulating general-purpose AI, national security roles, and balancing innovation with the public interest.
News from Our Community
- Prof Stefaan Verhulst, Director of Data for Policy CIC, will be delivering the keynote, titled “Towards a New Science of Questions for Unlocking the True Value of Data” at the ADV Data Excellence Conference.
- Prof Marta Poblet Balcell, a valued member of our Area 6 Committee, joined the panel organised by ESADE at MWC Barcelona to discuss how AI is reshaping economies, labor, and democratic processes
- .Dr Nydia Remolina, our respected member from our Area 4 Committee discussed AI governance in the Financial Sector at Future FinTech Federated Conference, where she highlighted Singapore’s approach and its comparison to other jurisdictions.
- Prof Igor Calzada, a valued member of our Area 6 committee, has recently published a thought-provoking article titled, ‘(Libertarian) Decentralised Web3 Map: In Search of a Post-Westphalian Territory’ in the EUI Global Governance Programme and ERC BlockchainGov.
Stay ahead of the curve by exploring the latest articles from Data & Policy by Cambridge University Press. Dive into cutting-edge research and insights here !
On Our Radar: The UK has launched initiatives like the “Digital Inclusion Action Plan” to address digital exclusion and appointed a science minister to accelerate technologies such as drone medicine. Meanwhile, the U.S. is focusing on domestic innovation with its ‘America First’ investment policy. The EU continues to refine its AI regulations, while tech giants such as Google and Amazon are pushing the boundaries of AI capabilities in areas like language processing and enterprise solutions. Globally, countries like Canada, Japan, and Kazakhstan are also making significant strides in AI policy and governance. Additionally, international collaborations, like the EU-India Trade and Technology Council, are fostering innovation in semiconductors, AI, and sustainability. On the tech front, Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 is showcasing impressive new language capabilities, while the EU’s AI factories are emerging as vibrant innovation hubs, poised to ignite the continent’s tech scene. These developments reflect the accelerating pace of AI and digital technology shaping policy, security, and innovation worldwide.
Reports in Focus: Stanford’s HAI has just released its 2024 Annual Report, offering a comprehensive look at the latest AI breakthroughs, sparking excitement among researchers about what’s next. The UK’s Cyber Security Sectoral Analysis Report 2025 is also making waves, revealing vulnerabilities across industries—serving as a wake-up call for anyone keeping an eye on cyber risks. Meanwhile, the “Data Commons for AI Blueprint” is a bold proposal aimed at making data sharing fairer and faster, unlocking AI’s potential without leaving anyone behind. And don’t miss “Trustworthy AI: African Perspectives”—this report dives into major ethical issues, from data access to colonial legacies, showcasing Africa’s readiness to drive the AI dialogue.
Blogs: INSEAD is delving into China’s AI strategy, analysing how the country’s pushing for global dominance through a blend of innovation, talent, and significant investment—it’s a masterclass in ambition. Microsoft is focusing on South Africa, highlighting how AI is transforming everything from tax services to skills training, offering a glimpse into a nation on the verge of a tech revolution. Meanwhile, the BBC’s getting us hooked on AI’s impact on healthcare, exploring how it’s poised to revolutionise diagnostics and patient care—think fewer waiting rooms, more breakthroughs. Each post is a window into a world where AI isn’t just hype—it’s rewriting the rules.
Opportunities: The Data Tank’s Data Stewards Intensive Course in Switzerland is calling your name, promising to turn you into a pro at managing data for good. Over at CSET Georgetown, they’re on the hunt for a Research Fellow to explore AI’s big questions—covering policy, technology, and everything in between. And if University of Cambridge is more your pace, their Senior Research Associate role in Data Science offers an opportunity to push boundaries at one of the world’s top academic institutions.
To explore the full content of the March’25 newsletter, click here.
Stay updated on the latest news and insights in data and AI policy by subscribing to our newsletter here.