Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch arrested two alleged members of a fraud ring in Chattogram for using artificial intelligence to imitate a doctor’s image and voice in online videos promoting a product called “Prostulin F.” Police said the videos falsely presented urologist and kidney transplant surgeon Professor Dr. Md. Kamrul Islam as endorsing the product for prostate problems, physical weakness and sexual weakness. The arrests were made in separate operations in Bayezid Bostami and Panchlaish on August 18 and 19.

The suspects, Tanvir Alam alias Rahat, 23, and Md. Nurnabi Islam alias Manik, 23, were sent to court with a request for seven days’ remand. Police seized three mobile phones, SIM cards and seven fake herbal food supplements during the operation. Investigators said the group created false Facebook accounts and pages using the physician’s name, photograph and professional identity.

The case began after the doctor learned that his identity was being misused, and his personal assistant filed a case at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station. Police said an initial examination of seized digital devices found information linked to fake Facebook pages and the alleged fraud. Investigators are seeking to identify other possible members of the network.

Bangladeshi rock musician James, leader of the band Nagarbaul, and his travelling companions have faced allegations after a show in Rome, Italy. Best Western hotel management alleged that an apartment room was left dirty and disorganised and that the group departed without informing reception. The hotel sought a minimum €200 cleaning fee to resolve the matter.

Photos and screenshots circulated on social media showed plastic water bottles and polythene bags on the floor, leftover food on a dining table, and dirty dishes in a kitchen sink with broken raw eggs. Hotel authorities reportedly told an organiser’s representative that a final additional €200 cleaning charge would be required for future use of the hotel.

James’s manager, Rubaiyat Thakur Robin, dismissed the issue as trivial and denied that the group left without notice. He said the team occupied four rooms, while the complained-about room, number 549, was occupied by another musician. Organiser Hossain Ahmed Moaz also accused Robin of fraud, accounting irregularities and illegal money transfers; no clear formal response has been issued by James or Robin on those financial allegations.

Highway police arrested Faruk, 40, after he allegedly attempted to steal equipment from an AI technology camera on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Cumilla’s Daudkandi upazila. The incident occurred around 1:30am on Wednesday at pillar number 179 in the Raipur area. Following a court order, Faruk was sent to jail.

According to the report, Faruk tried to climb a pole to take equipment from the AI camera installed on the Dhaka-bound lane. Local residents saw him and caught him at the scene before calling the national emergency service, 999. Police from Daudkandi Highway Crossing Police Station arrived and handed him over to Daudkandi Model Police Station.

A case was filed against Faruk over an alleged attempt to steal government property. Daudkandi Highway Police Station officer-in-charge Premdas Ray said the court ordered his imprisonment after he was produced before it. Cumilla highway region Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shahinur Alam Khan said the AI cameras are state assets important for road safety and discipline, and sought public cooperation in protecting them.

AI camera surveillance on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway detected traffic violations in 464 cases and imposed Tk 1.551 million in fines over 27 hours, according to monitoring officials. The violations were recorded from 11am on August 18 to 5pm on August 19. They included speeding, driving in the opposite direction and illegal parking.

Mohammad Anisur Rahman, officer-in-charge of the AI Camera Monitoring Data Center in the Meghnaghat area of Sonargaon, Narayanganj, confirmed the figures. On the first day, the approved speed limit was 80–85 kilometres per hour and was raised to 90 kilometres per hour on the second day. Of the 446 cases filed on Tuesday, most involved exceeding the speed limit; only 18 additional cases were recorded by 5pm Wednesday.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed inaugurated the AI-based auto fine system at Meghnaghat on Tuesday. The automated coverage extends about 250 kilometres from Jatrabari in Dhaka to Chattogram City Gate, using 1,427 AI cameras at 490 points. Vehicle owners will receive mobile messages on fines and can pay through mobile banking.

Meta has changed how Facebook calculates content reach, prioritizing original, high-quality posts while reducing distribution for low-quality or mass-produced AI-driven material. The policy, reported on August 19, 2026, does not ban AI-generated content outright, but posts lacking meaningful human creative input or editing will appear less often in News Feed and Reels.

Meta assesses originality by looking for a creator’s contribution, including an original idea, editing, commentary or distinctive presentation. Downloading and reposting others’ videos, adding logos or subtitles, or changing playback speed will not qualify as original content. A Meta newsroom announcement in March said original creators would receive greater reach and earning opportunities, while unoriginal material would be deprioritized.

AI-generated images, audio and realistic videos must carry a “Made with AI” label. The label has appeared on regular posts since May and has been automatically added to advertisements since July. Meta said AI use alone will not remove monetization eligibility, but monetization will be stopped for unoriginal, mass-produced or reposted content. Analysts say Facebook increasingly recommends content from pages users do not follow, while artificial engagement is receiving less reach.

India’s rapid expansion of private higher education has widened access for young people but also increased student debt, unemployment and uncertainty about future earnings. In Greater Noida’s planned Knowledge Park, near New Delhi, about 100,000 students attend universities, colleges, management institutes and technology and research centres. Many families use savings or bank loans to enrol children in private colleges.

The number of private colleges in India has nearly tripled over the past decade. Higher-education enrolment reached 45 million in 2024, up 41 percent in a decade, with more than two-thirds of students studying at private institutions. Yet well-paid jobs have not grown at the same pace. Research by Azim Premji University found that nearly 40 percent of graduates under 25 are unemployed, while only about 250,000 new jobs paying more than $500 annually are created each year.

Education entrepreneur Akshay Saxena said students were sold the mistaken belief that a degree guarantees employment. He estimated that about 400,000 students annually spend more than $20,000 on private engineering colleges, while graduates’ median annual salary is about $3,000. Students are increasingly focused on earning enough to repay loans and reduce family pressure.

Bangladesh is working on an artificial intelligence policy as officials and technology specialists warn that AI-generated fake videos, images and voices could create major challenges. The report, published on August 19, 2026, says AI is already being used in government and private offices to speed up work, but the country has not yet adopted a related policy. The government says it is taking UNESCO’s assistance in drafting one.

Technology specialist Tanvir Hasan Zoha said misinformation and deepfakes would be among the biggest future challenges and called for stronger digital skills among people. Ministry officials said AI could create immense opportunities but may also enable misinformation, deepfakes and efforts to influence public opinion. They said excessive reliance on AI could weaken creativity and critical thinking.

Officials said the government has formed a committee for the AI policy and that it is consulting UNESCO. The report cited a Dismislab finding that nearly 1,000 AI-made fake videos were uploaded to YouTube channels in Bangladesh in July, causing public confusion. It also described a fake video portraying Sheikh Hasina meeting Indian President Droupadi Murmu and holding a joint press conference.

Bangladesh is preparing a five-year action plan to strengthen trade capacity, improve investment conditions and protect domestic industries as it approaches graduation from the least developed country category. The scheduled graduation date is November 24 this year, while the country faces the prospect of reduced tariff preferences and tougher competition in global markets. The Trade Ministry says the plan contains 12 priority actions, including export capacity, trade facilitation, institutional capability, training, research and greater use of artificial intelligence.

Bangladesh sought an extension of its preparation period from the UN Committee for Development Policy on February 18. The committee said an extension could be appropriate if Bangladesh makes significant progress on internal reforms to address structural weaknesses. On July 21, the UN Economic and Social Council noted the committee’s decision and recommended that the General Assembly take necessary action before November 24.

A Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute report for the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission calls for stronger anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard capacity. It recommends coordinated partnerships among government, industry and universities, alongside a national trade defence council, support centres, specialised cells, digital information systems and skilled personnel. Economists and business leaders also stress energy security, banking reform, policy continuity, skilled human resources and export diversification.

A Kaspersky survey of 7,200 people across several countries found that many Gen Z users treat artificial intelligence as more than a tool for information and work. Published on August 19, 2026, the findings show that 27% of Gen Z respondents speak with AI as if talking to a friend, while 28% seek advice on personal matters they do not easily share with other people.

AI use is also more common among Gen Z than among other generations, according to the research. Some 47% of surveyed young people said they use AI daily or regularly. The most common uses were searching for information, cited by 56%, studying at 49%, generating new ideas at 47%, and workplace tasks at 39%.

The survey also pointed to security concerns. Only 42% of Gen Z AI users regularly take protective measures, including verifying AI-generated information through reliable sources and avoiding sharing personal or confidential data. Another 52% do so occasionally, while 6% take no precautions. Kaspersky AI Technology Research Center group manager Vladislav Tushkanov said personal AI interactions should not be considered fully private or reliable conversations.

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT for Teens, a dedicated experience for users aged 13 to 17 designed to support learning, critical thinking and confidence using AI. Users estimated by the system to be under 18, or who state they are 13 to 17, are automatically placed in the teen experience. It includes stronger built-in safety protections, learning-focused tools and added controls for parents.

Study Mode uses guiding questions and step-by-step scaffolding rather than simply providing answers. Responsible homework reminders can identify apparent attempts to shortcut assignments and redirect users to collaborative problem solving. The platform also offers quizzes, learning visualizations and Study Hours, which teens or parents can schedule so Study Mode is enabled by default at chosen times.

Default safeguards address self-harm, violence, eating disorders, dangerous activities, and explicit sexual or graphic content. Parents with linked teen accounts can set Quiet Hours, manage selected settings and receive limited safety notifications; OpenAI is adding notifications related to eating disorders. OpenAI also announced a partnership with CodeAI to provide students and educators with tools and resources intended to help teens understand, question, direct and create with AI.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said sustainable development will not be possible unless equal opportunities are ensured for everyone in society and the state. He made the remarks on Tuesday as chief guest at a dialogue at a hotel in the capital titled “Information Integrity and Social Cohesion in Bangladesh: Policy, Platform Accountability and Collective Action.” UNDP, GIZ and the Norwegian government organized the event.

Swapan said Bangladesh’s media and information landscape is changing rapidly. While technological advances have expanded opportunities for information flow, they have also created new challenges. He stressed the need to ensure both free flow of information and its credibility and responsibility, identifying misinformation, disinformation and misleading information as major challenges amid rapid growth in information technology and artificial intelligence.

The minister called for coordinated action by the state, media, civil society and international development partners. He said international experience should be used while Bangladesh builds capacities suited to its own realities and needs. He also urged the positive use of AI, digital platforms and data-driven communication, alongside media freedom, responsibility, public access to information and skills development for media workers.

Turkey has announced a new 2026–2030 Artificial Intelligence Action Plan aimed at establishing the country as one of the world’s leading AI hubs by 2030. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the circular on Tuesday, and it was subsequently published in the official gazette. Coordinated by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the roadmap seeks technological self-reliance and broader use of AI-based solutions in strategic sectors.

The plan is structured around awareness, use, production and governance, with the stated aim of building a reliable and strong AI ecosystem. Within two years, Turkey plans to provide AI training to 5 million citizens across all 81 provinces, develop 10,000 high-level AI specialists and train 100,000 AI implementation professionals. The government also plans to prepare at least 2,000 public datasets and establish legal and ethical frameworks to protect users’ rights.

Turkey targets 1 gigawatt of installed data-centre computing capacity by 2030 and plans to allocate 20 million GPU-hours for researchers, startups and small businesses. Public institutions have been instructed to devote at least 2% of investment budgets to AI projects. The plan also targets at least $10 billion in private-sector-led AI and data-centre investment.

China’s Unitree Robotics has rapidly expanded in the global robot-dog market using technology resembling research funded by the US military, Reuters reported on August 18, 2026. The report said Unitree’s popular Go-series quadruped robots closely resemble work on movement and design carried out at US universities and research institutions.

The US Army funded the Robotics Collaborative Technology Alliance from 2010 to 2020, involving MIT, the University of Pennsylvania, NASA and other institutions. Its findings were publicly released to advance robotics worldwide. Researcher Ben Katz said Unitree’s robot-dog design was nearly identical to MIT’s Mini Cheetah robot.

While US innovations did not move into large-scale production, China began mass-producing similar technology at lower cost. Unitree’s Go2 model, launched in 2023, was priced at about $1,600. The company says it sold more than 18,000 quadruped robots and over 5,500 humanoid robots last year. The United States recently added Unitree to a list of companies linked to China’s defense industry.

Poland’s digital affairs minister Krzysztof Gawkowski has accused Meta of censorship after the Instagram account of Polish billionaire and InPost founder Rafal Brzoska was temporarily blocked. The action followed Brzoska’s criticism of fraudulent AI-generated advertisements using his image. His account was later restored, according to the report published on August 18, 2026.

Gawkowski called the incident the worst form of censorship. He accused Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, of profiting from advertisements using stolen identities while shifting responsibility to anonymous advertisers. Brzoska had publicly criticized Meta over a fraudulent Facebook advertisement featuring an AI-generated image of him surrounded by police and wearing handcuffs.

The minister said the issue extends beyond one businessman’s interests and concerns the safety of millions of Polish citizens who could lose savings through fraudulent advertisements, deepfakes and false investment schemes. In 2024, Poland’s data protection authority ordered Meta to temporarily stop advertisements using Brzoska’s personal data. Earlier this year, a Polish court ruled in Brzoska’s favor in his continuing dispute with Meta over responsibility for scam ads.

An artificial intelligence-based Auto Fine System has officially begun operating on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway to improve road safety, enforce traffic discipline and reduce accidents. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed inaugurated the technology-driven system on Tuesday at the Highway Police Command, Control and Monitoring Centre in Meghnaghat, Sonargaon, Narayanganj.

The minister described the initiative as a major Highway Police step toward restoring order on highways and said it would bring a transformative change to traffic management. He said the system’s results and experience on the Dhaka-Chattogram route would be assessed before automated AI technology is introduced gradually on highways nationwide. He also warned against illegal extortion, saying CCTV and AI camera records would be preserved.

AI cameras have been installed on 490 pillars under a project focused on the highway. The system can detect speeding, dangerous overtaking, signal violations, wrong-way driving and illegal parking. Information will be sent to the BRTA database, and registered vehicle owners will receive case details by SMS. Fines may be paid through mobile financial services, while repeated violations can lead to registration cancellation and other legal action.