Which countries are embracing AI the most? A report from Microsoft indicates that the UAE, followed by Singapore, Norway, Ireland and France, are leading the way.

Of course, these studies are plentiful and often use different methods that lead to varying results. Yet the Microsoft report focuses on what many experts call "AI diffusion", which looks at which countries are broadly embracing the technology.

While debates continue as to how to best regulate AI, the fact that it's getting more difficult to find people who are completely unaware of it is a good sign.

The big story

Wright tries to prove the AI naysayers wrong

In brief | For a brief moment, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright was interrupted by a protester during a roundtable discussion at an AI event in Washington.

Although he never directly addressed the protester, it's worth pointing out that the event, the AI+ Expo, has become a magnet for demonstrators concerned about Big Tech companies linking up with the US government.

All that aside, almost all the major technology players had a presence at AI+. That's nothing to scoff at, and it speaks volumes about the momentum of AI overall.

Why it matters | In many ways, the AI+ Expo shows the chasm that's increasingly evident between average consumers who use AI apps and tools, and the companies largely responsible for making them.

Poll after poll shows increased fears about AI causing labour market disruptions.

Some Big Tech executives such as Nvidia's Jensen Huang, however, have said those fears are largely unfounded.

Although Mr Wright ultimately told those at AI+ that he was ready to embrace the disruption and that the good would outweigh the bad, you can bet his enthusiasm will also lead to more concerns about AI and the unknown.

Quoted | "Is AI going to be disruptive? Of course ... If you've got a new, powerful tool, it's going to be disruptive but the positives, I believe, and I think the evidence is compelling, are going to be massively larger than the negatives”

- US Energy Secretary Chris Wright

Future in focus

• Cultural confusion | I said camel, not ostrich. Why AI makes such a meal of Arabic words

• Advanced forecasting | AI to play key role in tackling increase of extreme weather, UAE meteorology chief says

• Long disruption | Iranians reach 120 days without internet as blackout continues

• Amiable attitudes | AI energy reckoning renews nuclear debate 40 years after Chernobyl

Predicting the future: Signal or noise?

The controversial but prolific pro-Iran AI videos resembling The Lego Movie show no sign of subsiding, yet the Denmark-based Lego Group has stayed silent on the issue.

The popularity of the videos, many of which are created by a group calling itself Explosive Media, have raised legal questions such as whether or not Lego, the maker of the famous toy bricks and branded products, is concerned about its intellectual property being used without permission.

This is a signal: It would be almost impossible for The Lego Group to successfully sue Explosive Media as the group is probably based out of and/or linked to Iran. Silence from the Denmark-based company, at least for now, is probably a better option than drawing more attention to the videos.

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