NEWS YOU CAN’T MISS

Wait… Kids in China Are Learning AI Before Algebra?

China is taking a bold step in tech education: starting September 1, 2025, AI instruction will be mandatory for all primary and secondary students. This move puts AI literacy on par with reading and math, signaling China’s ambition to lead the next wave of global innovation.

What’s Changing?

All students will receive at least eight hours of AI education annually. Younger learners will explore basics like voice recognition and image classification through hands-on activities. Older students will study machine learning, robotics, and even build simple algorithms.

The curriculum is tiered by grade level:

• Primary: Spark interest and introduce core concepts.

• Middle School: Focus on logic, problem-solving, and AI fundamentals.

• High School: Apply knowledge through projects, designing and optimizing AI models.

Schools may integrate AI into existing STEM subjects or teach it as a standalone course.

To support this, the Ministry of Education is rolling out teacher training and upgrading classroom infrastructure. Teachers will also learn to use AI tools for lesson planning and personalized instruction.

Ethics are central: primary students are barred from using generative AI independently, and all students are prohibited from submitting AI-generated work. Lessons will cover privacy, digital responsibility, and critical thinking.

My take: While much of the world debates AI’s place in education, China is acting as are countries like the US, UAE and Singapore. Embedding AI early builds a generation ready to lead with skills and critical thinking. It’s a strategic move, one other nations will be watching closely.

Can You Copyright Your Face? Denmark Says Yes

Denmark is set to become the first country in Europe to grant citizens copyright ownership over their own face, voice, and body. This move is a direct response to the rapid rise of AI-generated deepfakes and digital identity theft.

Backed by broad political support, the legislative proposal aims to amend Danish copyright law so individuals automatically own the rights to their personal likeness and characteristics.

Key aspects of the proposed law:

• Automatic Copyright: Every Danish citizen would, by default, own the rights to their facial features, voice, and body. Unauthorized use, such as creating or sharing digital imitations, would be illegal without consent.

• Deepfake Protection: The law specifically targets AI-generated deepfakes. These are highly realistic digital representations of real people, often created using artificial intelligence, that mimic a person's appearance, voice, and mannerisms. Citizens would have the legal right to demand the removal of such content if it is shared without their permission.

• Scope: The protections would apply to both ordinary individuals and performing artists. This ensures that both personal likenesses and digital recreations of performances are safeguarded.

• Exceptions: Parody and satire are explicitly exempt, meaning that creative works in these categories would not be affected.

• Enforcement: Platforms that fail to act on takedown requests could face significant fines. Denmark also plans to promote similar legal protections across the European Union during its upcoming EU presidency.

My take: This is a bold and timely step to safeguard digital identity, and it sets a much-needed precedent as deepfakes become increasingly difficult to detect and more frequently used in scams and misinformation.

Would You Use AI to Replay Your Dreams?

Dutch design studio Modem has designed a device that lets you turn your dreams into short videos that you can rewatch.

Here’s how it works: Wake up and double-tap the device, speak aloud what you remember from your dream, and the AI generates a grainy, artistic video that plays back on its screen. The videos are generated by an AI trained on artistic illustrations, which gives the dream visuals a blurry, impressionistic look.

Called the “Dream Recorder,” the project is open-source and fully build-it-yourself. Users 3D print the shell, gather the components, and assemble the device at home (costing about €285 or $310). The Dream Recorder stores upto 7 dreams that can be revisited.

Modem sees the Dream Recorder as a tool for reflecting on the subconscious, offering a new way to connect with your inner thoughts before the day’s distractions take over.

What do you think?

AI Around The World

YouTube megastar Mr. Beast (with 410 million subscribers) has pulled an AI-powered thumbnail image tool from his platform after backlash from fellow YouTubers. Critics said it copied creators’ work without permission, with some calling it theft. MrBeast admitted he “missed the mark” and will replace the tool with links to human artists for hire.

China has developed a mosquito-sized spy drone for covert military operations. Built by the National University of Defence Technology, the tiny drone can be controlled via smartphone and is equipped with sensors for reconnaissance and special missions on the battlefield. 🦟

Anthropic is launching a new program to study how AI is reshaping the economy, from job loss to productivity shifts. Backed by $50K research grants and global policy forums, the effort aims to ground AI debates in real data. It follows CEO Dario Amodei’s warning that AI could wipe out half of all entry-level white-collar jobs within five years. 😳