Balance Brief: 22 Oct to 5 Nov 2025
We’ve had a busy two weeks, initiating conversations about Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in Sri Lanka. The island is rushing to implement a digital ID system, followed by a sovereign cloud. As is our style, we wished to slow down and consider digitisation from a rights-based perspective. We’ll have the full event report out to you soon.
In the meantime, let’s look at the rest of the world.
Covering 22nd Oct 2025 to 5th Nov 2025 ...
News and views
#Infrastructures of power
Boom or bubble? Inside the $3tn AI datacentre spending spree | Artificial intelligence (AI) Trillions of dollars are being spent on AI infrastructure, but some worry the debt-fuelled exuberance will backfire. (2nd Nov, The Guardian)
OpenAI Restructures as For-Profit Company OpenAI undergoes a massive restructuring effort, adopting a for-profit structure for the first time since its establishment. (28th Oct, The New York Times)
Quantum technology is coming to the real world Laying the groundwork for quantum technology today is essential, as it holds the promise of solving difficult problems. (30th Oct, Financial Times)
#Labour and displacement
Grokipedia is the antithesis of everything that makes Wikipedia good Grokipedia lacks the human touch that makes Wikipedia what it is. (28th Oct, 404 Media)
AI 'godmother' Fei-Fei Li says she is 'proud to be different' The godmother of AI thinks the next AI milestone will come when it is able to interact with the world around it. (5th Nov, BBC)
Japanese convenience stores are hiring robots run by workers in the Philippines The tele-operation of robots is allowing physical labour to be offshored. (20th Oct, Rest of the World)
#Cultural frontiers
The Inside Story of How Gen Z Toppled Nepal’s Leader and Chose a New One on Discord Youth-led movements have been sweeping change across Asia in the past five years. The latest — in Nepal — saw direct democracy unfold on Discord. Wired reveals the insider details. (4th Nov, Wired)
How AGI became the most consequential conspiracy theory of our time AGI may be the most consequential conspiracy theory of our time. (30th Oct, MIT Technology Review)
The metaverse is rewriting the rules of who can be a K-pop star A new kind of star — virtual idols — is on the rise in South Korea. (27th Oct, Rest of the World)
#Governance and geopolitics
Artificial intelligence and the future of espionage | The Strategist Anne Neuberger, former US deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology, argues that to fully realise the potential of AI, agencies must reinvent workflows. (30th Oct, The Strategist)
How China Views AI Risks and What to do About Them | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace China’s views on AI risks. (16th Oct, Carnegie)
From Attention Merchants to Intention Architects: The invisible infrastructure reshaping human curiosity - The Shorenstein Center Researchers are beginning to document the ‘intention economy,’ where AI systems collect, commodify, and potentially manipulate user intent. (29th Oct, Shorenstein Center)
#Digital power reimagined
Why Bitcoin Is Freedom Money | Journal of Democracy Bitcoin, coined ‘freedom money’, is fuelling democratic resistance across the world. (Oct 2025, Journal of Democracy)
China tech canon Afra explores how the paideía of the Chinese tech elite differs from their Silicon Valley counterparts. (22nd Oct, Afraw.substack)
Research and reports
A quantitative and qualitative analysis of online Islamophobic and xenophobic discourse surrounding the New York City mayoral campaign between June and October.
Islamophobia and the New York City Mayoral Election
On misinformation in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
Upcoming events
5th November: Digital Governance for Democratic Renewal
12th November: Big Tech, Democracy and Human Rights in South Asia - Center for the Study of Organized Hate
26th-27th November: Splice Beta 2025. Chiang Mai, November 26-27
