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France Ranks Last in Global AI Adoption Among Public Servants, Study Finds

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France ranks last in a new global index measuring artificial intelligence adoption in government, with nearly half of its public servants reporting that they have never used AI at work, despite substantial government investment in the technology.

The Public Sector AI Adoption Index 2026, released on Monday by Public First for the Center for Data Innovation with support from Google, surveyed 3,335 civil servants across 10 countries, including the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa, India, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia. The study highlights a gap between ambitious AI strategies and actual implementation in European governments.

According to the index, 74 percent of French public servants said AI cannot perform any part of their work, and about 45 percent reported never using AI on the job. Only 27 percent noted that their organisations had invested in AI tools, and many said guidance from leadership on AI use was unclear.

“While France positions AI as a strategic tool for competitiveness and modernisation, without hands-on experience, its value remains abstract for many workers,” the report stated. Researchers warned that 70 percent of employees who actively use AI in organisations with limited guidance are doing so in “shadow” mode, meaning they operate AI tools without informing their employers.

Across Europe, adoption of AI in public services remains cautious. Germany and France were grouped as risk-averse countries, where AI is limited to specialists and pilot projects. The United Kingdom showed more progress, with 37 percent of public servants receiving AI training, but adoption remains uneven across departments and access to approved tools is limited.

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By contrast, countries such as Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and India led the index. Public servants in these countries report widespread, everyday use of AI in government work, supported by clear leadership guidance and training programmes. Globally, 74 percent of public servants now use AI, and 80 percent say it empowers them, but only 18 percent believe their governments are using AI very effectively.

The survey assessed adoption across five areas: attitudes toward AI, confidence in using it, access to approved tools, integration of AI in daily work, and access to training. Experts said these factors determine whether governments can translate ambitious AI strategies into tangible improvements in public services.

“Many governments have ambitious plans for AI in the public sector, but some are creating better conditions for real‑world use than others,” said Rachel Wolf, CEO of Public First. “Our research shows who is succeeding and where improvement is needed. This matters because effective AI enables better public services, stronger outcomes for citizens, and more resilient public institutions.”

The findings raise questions about the effectiveness of France’s AI initiatives, which have included significant investment in infrastructure and ethical frameworks aimed at guiding responsible AI deployment in government. Analysts said closing the gap between strategy and practical use will be critical for the country to realise the benefits of AI for public services.

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Mobile World Congress Opens in Barcelona With Focus on AI and 5G Concerns

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The Mobile World Congress opens its doors on Monday, marking its 20th year in Barcelona and showcasing the latest developments in global connectivity. Once known primarily as a launchpad for new smartphones, the annual technology gathering has evolved into a broader platform for artificial intelligence, next-generation networks and emerging digital infrastructure.

This year’s event is set to spotlight AI innovations and what organisers describe as the “IQ Era,” referring to the deeper integration of artificial intelligence into daily life and industry. Exhibitions will also explore the future of airport travel, advances in robotics and discussions around 5G and early 6G development.

Vivek Badrinath, director general of the GSMA, which hosts the conference, issued a warning about Europe’s lagging 5G deployment in remarks to Euronews. He said that while the United States and China have advanced in standalone 5G networks, enabling industrial automation in ports and factories, Europe has reached only about 3 percent deployment of 5G standalone technology.

Badrinath described the situation as a “chicken and egg” problem. Without broad network coverage, European companies are reluctant to invest in robotics or AI systems that depend on 5G. At the same time, limited demand slows infrastructure rollout. “If we don’t roll out 5G properly, you’re out of the game,” he said, arguing that digital competitiveness depends on strong network foundations.

Regulatory reform is expected to be a central topic at the conference, particularly around the European Union’s proposed Digital Network Act, which aims to modernise and harmonise connectivity rules. Telecom operators have called for changes that would allow greater consolidation and investment capacity. Industry leaders point to Europe’s fragmented market of roughly 200 operators, many serving around five million customers each, compared with the far larger scale of major providers in the US and China.

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Government participation at the event remains strong. Last year’s ministerial programme drew dozens of ministers and regulatory agency heads, and similar high-level attendance is expected this year, offering a forum for dialogue between policymakers and industry executives.

Beyond policy debates, organisers say MWC will continue to highlight consumer and enterprise technologies. Among the anticipated product showcases is a foldable robotic phone from Chinese brand Honor. The exhibition will also introduce “Airport of the Future,” demonstrating how connectivity is reshaping aviation systems, and “New Frontiers,” a space dedicated to quantum computing, robotics and satellite-based non-terrestrial networks.

As the conference enters its third decade in Barcelona, organisers aim to balance technological ambition with urgent discussions about Europe’s digital future.

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Transatlantic Tensions on Digital Rules Highlight Need for Cooperation

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Discussions between Europe and the United States over digital regulation continue to be marked by miscommunication and frustration, even as competitors observe from the sidelines. Europeans and Americans talk past each other while rivals watch. The European Union can set its own standards, but in an interconnected economy, decoupling fantasies and grandstanding won’t help.

The debate often centres on “free speech” concerns voiced by U.S. tech companies and policymakers in response to the EU’s legislative framework for digital platforms. In Europe, such narratives typically prompt defensive reactions. Some Europeans respond with a blunt message: “This is our land, our Union, our laws, follow them, or leave the EU—we’ll find alternative products to use!” Public awareness of American constitutional amendments is low across Europe, just as Americans pay little attention to European digital acts and regulations.

The transatlantic dialogue is further complicated by the global nature of social media platforms. Any EU legislation affecting user experience inevitably influences the functioning of these platforms worldwide, touching on what Americans see as free speech rights. The EU also seeks to extend its influence through the “Brussels effect,” ensuring that European rules shape global standards, while the U.S. maintains a large trade surplus in services and competes technologically with China. This mix of economic, political, and regulatory factors explains why U.S. attention is sharply focused on Europe’s digital policies.

Europeans argue that their 450-million-consumer market has the right to set rules that reflect local principles and values. Attempts to adjust or simplify regulations are difficult, with efforts often met with political resistance and scrutiny. The regulatory ecosystem in Europe supports industries of lawyers, consultants, and experts whose work depends on maintaining complex rules, making reform a sensitive topic.

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On the American side, anti-EU rhetoric by public figures has sometimes compounded the problem, drowning out moderates and reinforcing defensive European responses. Analysts note that both regions have seen productive voices sidelined as grandstanding and negative statements dominate public discourse.

Observers argue that long-term thinking is necessary. By evaluating the EU-U.S. tech partnership in the broader context of global alliances, including China and Russia, policymakers can better assess priorities and avoid unnecessary disruption. Blank-slate decoupling between Europe and the United States is unrealistic, and delaying constructive dialogue risks broader economic consequences.

Experts warn that continued transatlantic infighting benefits other global powers and weakens the ability of both regions to set coherent standards in emerging technologies. The message from analysts is clear: cooperation, not confrontation, will determine whether the EU and U.S. can maintain leadership in digital regulation while safeguarding economic and technological interests.

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New AI System Helps “Kidnapped” Robots Find Their Way in Changing Environments

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Researchers in Spain have developed an AI system that allows robots to recover their position even after being moved, powered off, or displaced, offering a solution to the long-standing “kidnapped robot” problem. The system, designed at Miguel Hernández University of Elche, could enable autonomous machines to navigate safely in environments that change over time.

Autonomous robots, used in service operations, logistics, infrastructure inspection, environmental monitoring, and self-driving vehicles, often rely on satellite navigation systems such as GPS. These signals can be unreliable near tall buildings or completely unavailable indoors, making precise localisation a persistent challenge.

The new approach, called MCL-DLF (Monte Carlo Localisation – Deep Local Feature), uses 3D LiDAR technology to scan surroundings with laser pulses, creating a detailed map-like representation of the environment. By analysing both large structures and small distinguishing details, the system helps robots determine their exact location.

“This is similar to how people first recognise a general area and then rely on small distinguishing details to determine their precise location,” said Míriam Máximo, lead author of the study and a researcher at Miguel Hernández University of Elche.

MCL-DLF uses AI to identify which environmental features are most useful for localisation. The system maintains multiple possible location estimates simultaneously and continuously updates them as new sensor data becomes available. This allows robots to maintain reliable positioning even when environments look similar or have changed, such as when vegetation shifts or lighting conditions vary.

The research team tested the system over several months on the university campus under diverse conditions, including different seasons, lighting, and natural changes in vegetation. Results showed that MCL-DLF provided stronger positioning accuracy and more consistent performance compared with conventional localisation methods.

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By enabling robots to navigate without constant reliance on external infrastructure, the system could increase operational independence in real-world environments, where conditions rarely remain static. Reliable localisation is particularly important for tasks where safety and precision are critical, such as autonomous deliveries, environmental monitoring, and industrial inspections.

The development of MCL-DLF represents a significant advance in robotics, providing a practical solution to the kidnapped robot problem. Researchers say the technology could help service and industrial robots operate more effectively in complex, dynamic settings, paving the way for wider adoption of autonomous systems in both indoor and outdoor environments.

With AI-driven localisation, robots may soon be able to recover from displacements quickly and continue tasks without human intervention, making them more resilient and adaptable in everyday operations.

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