Global Dispatch

On-the-ground insights from our staff, including original analysis and behind-the-scenes looks at their reporting.

A child lying in bed, illuminated by the glow of a smartphone, with a soft expression on their face.

Global Dispatch 20 February 2026

If AI is so smart, why are our children unsafe?

It’s time to move the burden of safety from parents to platforms.

By Itika Sharma Punit

A young woman with long black hair is speaking, with a background of pink flowers and lanterns.

Global Dispatch 13 February 2026

I let Alibaba’s AI agent plan my holiday. I ended up doing more work

For reassurance, experimentation, and low-pressure decisions, AI agents can feel helpful. For bigger choices, I still trust myself more.

Global Dispatch 6 February 2026

Inside Web Summit Qatar: Shifting the global tech order

We report from Doha, where themes swirl around “a third voice” alternative to the U.S. and China.

By Indranil Ghosh

Three girls sit together on a couch, focused on their laptops, with classroom desks in the background.

Global Dispatch 30 January 2026

A visit to an AI classroom

What is gained and what is lost when AI drives childhood education.

By Rina Chandran

A collage of four images showing hands holding a smartphone, with a blue-green color filter applied.

Global Dispatch 23 January 2026

China’s “Are you dead?” app only feeds loneliness anxiety

How human digital behavior thwarts our connection – and some healthier approaches to solving isolation.

By Ananya Bhattacharya

Abstract graphic featuring a blue background with concentric circles, and orange symbols progressively increasing in size, interspersed with a yellow "X" shape.

Global Dispatch 16 January 2026

Grok’s biggest danger isn’t what it says — it’s where it lives

When you place AI inside a social network designed for attention and conflict, moderation becomes much harder, harm spreads faster, and accountability gets blurry.

By Damilare Dosunmu