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] By 2030, the state of building materials will be defined less by singular technological breakthroughs and more by coherent systems that integrate technology, standards, procurement, and data. Brightpath Associates
• [New] Starting in 2027, new cars could be equipped with AI systems that scan a driver's face, eyes and behaviour to determine if they are alert enough to drive. WTHI-TV
• [New] As global and local rules advance, the organizations that succeed will treat responsible tech as governance by design - a built-in capability that underpins every AI-enabled workflow. ThoughtWorks
• [New] The Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to modernize its satellite spectrum-sharing rules, which could increase capacity for space-based broadband services by up to sevenfold. Gizmodo
• [New] The 2026 NDS aims to work more closely with regional partners to collectively deter actions against Australia's interests and shape a region governed by rights and rules, not fear or force. GMA News Online
• [New] At least 26 discrete rulemakings to revise existing regulations - either as proposed rules for public comment or as direct final rules - are expected by mid-2026. JD Supra
• [New] The European Union's AI Act established comprehensive requirements for AI systems based on risk levels, the United States followed with executive orders requiring AI impact assessments, and industry leaders established voluntary standards that exceed regulatory minimums. idataweb
• [New] Starting in Q2 in the U.S., brands buying Netflix inventory through Amazon DSP will be able to apply Amazon Audiences-advertiser segments built from Amazon users' shopping, browsing, and streaming behaviour - to their campaigns. Adweek
• [New] One of the biggest growth opportunities in 2026 is TikTok search behaviour. Zorilla Marketing
• [New] As global investors increasingly scrutinise lifecycle emissions of LNG, ADNOC's portfolio will be assessed not just on cash flows but on compliance with evolving methane and emissions standards. Kalkine
• [New] Coartem Baby now has WHO prequalification, which indicates it meets international standards of quality, safety and efficacy, and will enable public-sector procurement for many countries with high rates of malaria, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The Guardian
• [New] The sudden collapse of global mobility due to geopolitical tensions and the erratic behaviour of natural disasters demonstrated that zero-buff er strategies are not merely inefficient; they are existential threats to business continuity. Think Supply Chain
• [New] There is recurrent potential for a win-win where Europe advances development through promoting the diffusion of cheaper green technology by opening itself up and making its standards accessible, as well as limiting some of its nationalist trade and investment policies. InterEconomics
• [New] The organizations that win will build useful, governed AI-embedded in workflows, measured against business outcomes, and aligned to UK/EU standards. Generation Digital
• [New] Implementing PQC is of paramount importance, since agencies like the National Institute of Standards and Technology will soon begin phasing out traditional cryptography protocols in favor of stronger PQC algorithms. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• [New] Plastic Regulation: Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2026 require 30% recycled content in rigid packaging, increasing to 60% by 2028-29. PMF IAS
• [New] In the UK, the Food Standards Agency is exploring how cultivated meat might be assessed under food safety regulations, with the first safety assessments expected in 2027. Farmers Weekly
• [New] While no overarching UK AI Act is expected, sector-specific guidance is emerging from regulators, including the SRA, Financial Conduct Authority, and ICO. Legal Futures
• [New] By 2026, autonomous agents will handle an estimated 80% of repetitive, rules-based tasks like writing boilerplate IaC, managing routine security patches, and rightsizing resources. Futurism
• [New] By 2027: Boards must approve a PQC transition strategy, conduct full cryptographic asset inventories (operational, information, and control systems), and launch pilots for hybrid deployment. FifthRow - Autonomous AI Apps for Research, Strategy, C
• [New] The Marine Corps is institutionalizing lessons from the Ukraine conflict into expeditionary light armored formations, compressing sensor-to-shooter timelines in ways that could materially alter how MEUs conduct distributed ground combat. Drone Warfare

Last updated: 07 May 2026