Technology Policy 21 January 2026

Singapore’s S$1 billion AI research bet: new push to keep pace with U.S., China by 2030
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Singapore’s S$1 billion AI research bet: new push to keep pace with U.S., China by 2030

Singapore plans to pour over S$1 billion into public AI research by 2030, the government announced Saturday. The funding aims to boost national AI capabilities and encourage wider adoption among businesses. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/singapore-invest-over-779-million-public-ai-research-through-2030-2026-01-24/ Funding arrives just as AI tools shift from demos to real-world use, while nations scramble to secure the computing power and talent needed to train and operate these models. The race remains dominated by U.S. and Chinese tech giants, with smaller economies looking to carve out niches.
January 24, 2026
Which U.S. states really ban phones at school? A new report card ranks them as UK tightens rules
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Which U.S. states really ban phones at school? A new report card ranks them as UK tightens rules

A coalition of child wellbeing groups unveiled a national “report card” Tuesday, grading all 50 U.S. states on their school cellphone policies. Only North Dakota and Rhode Island earned the top mark for keeping phones out of students’ hands throughout the day. “We are making clear which states are setting students up to thrive,” said Lina Nealon from the Institute for Families and Technology. The pace of change is striking. What began as patchwork policies has evolved into statewide mandates, driven by concerns over distraction and school environment—and fueled by increasing political pressure to act on kids’ screen time.
January 21, 2026