Global Scans · Standards · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Improving standards are likely to be driven more by business and technological improvement than governments in the future. The latter will be under severe pressure to cut bureaucracy, speed policy making and improve their nation's productivity performance.

• [New] In 2026, the combination of physical AI blueprints - such as Nvidia's ecosystem - and open interoperability standards (like IEEE P2874) will start to reshape industrial R&D. Information Week
• [New] Exchanges and digital-asset service providers in Singapore must be licensed under the Payment Services Act, meet AML and Travel-Rule obligations, and are expected to satisfy operational-resilience and cybersecurity standards. Sumsub
• [New] As 6G standards evolve, Nokia's early positioning could yield first-mover advantages, integrating AI for autonomous networks that self-optimize. WebProNews
• [New] The European Union and other countries are already preparing stricter rules for neurotechnology, which could significantly slow its global spread. Tomorrow's Affairs
• [New] Regulated AI means systems are built and operated under formal legal regimes (such as the US / EU / China rules) that mandate risk classification, transparency, human oversight, and strict data handling. EZO.io
• [New] AI orchestration in 2026 will be the control layer that coordinates multiple models, agents, tools, and data sources across workflows, deciding which component runs which step, in what sequence, and under which guardrails (for example, routing a task between search, an LLM, and a rules engine). EZO.io
• [New] 2026 Prediction: Multiple states will follow the lead of Arizona and amend their Code of Judicial Conduct to expressly require technology competence for AI. National Law Review
• [New] In 2026, organizations will need to treat AI agents like digital employees, each with a job description, performance metrics and clear scale-or-stop rules. Consultancy UK
• [New] The EPA plans to delay rules on vehicle emission standards. / USA American Chemical Society
• [New] Singapore continues to support digital payment tokens and multi-currency stablecoin infrastructure under a calibrated, compliance-first framework that emphasizes risk controls and regulatory standards. CryptoSlate
• [New] The rationale behind the NIH ban that human cells could make pigs too human rests on a misunderstanding of what gives beings - and human beings in particular - moral standing. Live Science
• [New] Private sector investment will increasingly be driven by compliance in 2026 and work to meet minimum energy efficiency standards rather than voluntary net zero commitments. Building
• [New] At CES 2026, expect to see AI utilized for route planning, energy management, and driver assistance systems that adapt in real-time rather than follow fixed rules. Mashable
• [New] The European Commission said on Tuesday it will propose stricter rules to curb the inflow of cheap plastics that undercut European recycling operations and threaten the EU's circular economy targets. ESG News
• [New] By 2026, best practices for contact center security focus on strict compliance with global standards such as PCI DSS and HIPAA, complemented by robust controls: full encryption, authentication, advanced firewalls, real-time AI monitoring, and no local storage policies. Call Center Services International
• [New] Global collaboration will be essential, with open standards, shared cyber security protocols and cross-border innovation partnerships to tackle challenges like health inequity and climate change. UKAuthority
• [New] Plain-English meaning: Singapore is tying stablecoin rules to the wider project of tokenized finance, where the settlement asset must be redeemable and regulated if institutions are going to use it. CryptoRank
• [New] By creating standards that recognize automated systems, NHTSA hopes to encourage broader deployment of autonomous vehicles, including passenger cars and commercial vehicles like robotaxis and automated delivery trucks. Pieces Online
• [New] As internet restrictions tighten globally - whether through authoritarian regimes blocking apps during unrest or democracies enforcing new content rules - reliable, censorship-resistant VPNs will become increasingly vital. TechRadar

Last updated: 08 January 2026