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Norges Bank says digital krone not required for now

Norway’s central bank has concluded that a central bank digital currency is not needed for now, ending several years of research and reaffirming that the country’s existing payment system remains secure, efficient, and widely used.

Norges Bank stated that it found no current requirement for a digital krone to maintain confidence in payments. Cash usage in Norway is among the lowest globally, but authorities argue the present system continues to serve consumers, merchants, and banks effectively.

The decision is not final. Governor Ida Wolden Bache said the assessment reflects timing rather than a rejection of CBDCs, noting the bank could introduce one if conditions change or if new risks emerge in the domestic payments landscape.

Norges Bank continues to examine both retail and wholesale models under the broader EU AI Act framework for digital resilience. It also sees potential in tokenisation, which could deliver efficiency gains and lower settlement risk even if a full CBDC is not introduced.

Experiments with tokenised platforms will continue in collaboration with industry partners. At the same time, the bank prepares a new report for early next year and monitors international work on shared digital currency infrastructure, including a possible digital €.

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Adobe brings its leading creative tools straight into ChatGPT

Yesterday, Adobe opened a new chapter for digital creativity by introducing Photoshop, Adobe Express and Adobe Acrobat inside ChatGPT.

The integration gives 800 million weekly users direct access to trusted creative and productivity tools through a conversational interface. Adobe aims to make creative work easier for newcomers by linking its technology to simple written instructions.

Photoshop inside ChatGPT offers selective edits, tone adjustments and creative effects, while Adobe Express brings quick design templates and animation features to people who want polished content without switching between applications.

Acrobat adds powerful document controls, allowing users to organise, edit or redact PDFs inside the chat. Each action blends conversation with Adobe’s familiar toolsets, giving users either simple text-driven commands or fine control through intuitive sliders.

The launch reflects Adobe’s broader investment in agentic AI and its Model Context Protocol. Earlier releases such as Acrobat Studio and AI Assistants for Photoshop and Adobe Express signalled Adobe’s ambition to expand conversational creative experiences.

Adobe also plans to extend an upcoming Firefly AI Assistant across multiple apps to support faster movement from an idea to a finished design.

All three apps are now available to ChatGPT users on desktop, web and iOS, with Android support expanding soon. Adobe positions the integration as an entry point for new audiences who may later move into the full desktop versions for deeper control.

The company expects the partnership to widen access to creative expression by letting anyone edit images, produce designs or transform documents simply by describing what they want to achieve.

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Australian families receive eSafety support as the social media age limit takes effect

Australia has introduced a minimum age requirement of 16 for social media accounts during the week, marking a significant shift in its online safety framework.

The eSafety Commissioner has begun monitoring compliance, offering a protective buffer for young people as they develop digital skills and resilience. Platforms now face stricter oversight, with potential penalties for systemic breaches, and age assurance requirements for both new and current users.

Authorities stress that the new age rule forms part of a broader effort aimed at promoting safer online environments, rather than relying on isolated interventions. Australia’s online safety programmes continue to combine regulation, education and industry engagement.

Families and educators are encouraged to utilise the resources on the eSafety website, which now features information hubs that explain the changes, how age assurance works, and what young people can expect during the transition.

Regional and rural communities in Australia are receiving targeted support, acknowledging that the change may affect them more sharply due to limited local services and higher reliance on online platforms.

Tailored guidance, conversation prompts, and step-by-step materials have been produced in partnership with national mental health organisations.

Young people are reminded that they retain access to group messaging tools, gaming services and video conferencing apps while they await eligibility for full social media accounts.

eSafety officials underline that the new limit introduces a delay rather than a ban. The aim is to reduce exposure to persuasive design and potential harm while encouraging stronger digital literacy, emotional resilience and critical thinking.

Ongoing webinars and on-demand sessions provide additional support as the enforcement phase progresses.

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EU advances ambitious gigafactory programme for AI leadership

The Council has agreed on a significant amendment to the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking regulation, aiming to establish AI gigafactories across Europe alongside a new quantum pillar.

The plan advances earlier efforts to build AI factories and redirects unused EU funds toward larger and more ambitious facilities. Up to five gigafactories are expected, supported through public and private partnerships that promise a stronger technological base for European research and industry.

AI gigafactories will combine high-performance computing, energy-efficient data centres and automated systems to give Europe world-class AI capacity. The regulation sets out firm rules for funding and procurement while protecting start-ups and scale-ups.

It also allows gigafactories to be spread across multiple countries, creating a flexible model that can strengthen European resilience, competitiveness and security instead of relying heavily on American or Chinese infrastructure.

An agreement that updates the governance of EuroHPC and introduces safeguards for participation from partners outside the EU. Quantum research and innovation activities will move from Horizon Europe to EuroHPC in order to consolidate work on critical technologies.

In a shift that aims to widen the impact of supercomputing and quantum infrastructure while supporting the development of essential skills for science and industry.

The next stage involves the European Parliament delivering its opinion on 17 December.

A final Council adoption will follow once legal and linguistic checks have been completed, marking a decisive step towards Europe’s new AI and quantum capability.

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AI agents redefine knowledge work through cognitive collaboration

A new study by Perplexity and Harvard researchers sheds light on how people use AI agents at scale.

Millions of anonymised interactions were analysed to understand who relies on agent technology, how intensively it is used and what tasks users delegate. The findings challenge the notion of a digital concierge model and reveal a shift toward more profound cognitive collaboration, rather than merely outsourcing tasks.

More than half of all activity involves cognitive work, with strong emphasis on productivity, learning and research. Users depend on agents to scan documents, summarise complex material and prepare early analysis before making final decisions.

Students use AI agents to navigate coursework, while professionals rely on them to process information or filter financial data. The pattern suggests that users adopt agents to elevate their own capability instead of avoiding effort.

Usage also evolves. Early queries often involve low-pressure tasks, yet long-term behaviour moves sharply toward productivity and sustained research. Retention rates are highest among users working on structured workflows or tasks that require knowledge.

The trajectory mirrors the early personal computer, which gained value through spreadsheets and text processing rather than recreational use.

Six main occupations now drive most agent activity, with firm reliance among digital specialists as well as marketing, management and entrepreneurial roles. Context shapes behaviour, as finance users concentrate on efficiency while students favour research.

Designers and hospitality staff follow patterns linked to their professional needs. The study argues that knowledge work is increasingly shaped by the ability to ask better questions and that hybrid intelligence will define future productivity.

The pace of adaptation across the broader economy remains an open question.

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Global network strengthens AI measurement and evaluation

Leaders around the world have committed to strengthening the scientific measurement and evaluation of AI following a recent meeting in San Diego.

Representatives from major economies agreed to intensify collaboration under the newly renamed International Network for Advanced AI Measurement, Evaluation and Science.

The UK has assumed the role of Network Coordinator, guiding efforts to create rigorous, globally recognised methods for assessing advanced AI systems.

A network that includes Australia, Canada, the EU, France, Japan, Kenya, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the UK and the US, promoting shared understanding and consistent evaluation practices.

Since its formation in November 2024, the Network has fostered knowledge exchange to align countries on AI measurement and evaluation best practices. Boosting public trust in AI remains central, unlocking innovations, new jobs, and opportunities for businesses and innovators to expand.

The recent San Diego discussions coincided with NeurIPS, allowing government, academic and industry stakeholders to collaborate more deeply.

AI Minister Kanishka Narayan highlighted the importance of trust as a foundation for progress, while Adam Beaumont, Interim Director of the AI Security Institute, stressed the need for global approaches to testing advanced AI.

The Network aims to provide practical and rigorous evaluation tools to ensure the safe development and deployment of AI worldwide.

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Online data exposure heightens threats to healthcare workers

Healthcare workers are facing escalating levels of workplace violence, with more than three-quarters reporting verbal or physical assaults, prompting hospitals to reassess how they protect staff from both on-site and external threats.

A new study examining people search sites suggests that online exposure of personal information may worsen these risks. Researchers analysed the digital footprint of hundreds of senior medical professionals, finding widespread availability of sensitive personal data.

The study shows that many doctors appear across multiple data broker platforms, with a significant share listed on five or more sites, making it difficult to track, manage, or remove personal information once it enters the public domain.

Exposure varies by age and geography. Younger doctors tend to have smaller digital footprints, while older professionals are more exposed due to accumulated public records. State-level transparency laws also appear to influence how widely data is shared.

Researchers warn that detailed profiles, often available for a small fee, can enable harassment or stalking at a time when threats against healthcare leaders are rising. The findings renew calls for stronger privacy protections for medical staff.

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Workplace study highlights Gemini’s impact on creativity

Google’s new research on the impact of Gemini AI in Workspace reveals that the technology is reshaping how teams collaborate, with surveyed workers reporting weekly time savings and increasing confidence in AI-supported tasks.

The findings, based on input from more than 1,200 leaders and employees across six countries, suggest generative AI is becoming integral to routine workflows.

Many users report that Gemini helps them accomplish more in less time, generate ideas faster, and redirect their attention from repetitive tasks to higher-value work.

The report highlights wider organisational benefits. Leaders see AI as a driver of innovation, but a gap remains between executive ambitions and employee readiness. Google says structured training and phased rollouts are key to building trust and improving adoption accuracy.

New and updated Workspace features aim to address these needs. Recent Gemini releases offer improved task automation, enhanced email drafting, and advanced storytelling tools, while no-code agent builders support more complex workflow design without specialist skills.

The research points to a broader transformation in digital productivity. Companies using Gemini report fewer hours spent on administrative work, higher engagement, and stronger collaboration as AI becomes a functional layer that supports rather than replaces human judgement.

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Rising UK screen time sparks concerns for wellbeing

UK internet use has risen sharply, with adults spending over four and a half hours a day online in 2025, according to Ofcom’s latest Online Nation report.

Public sentiment has cooled, as fewer people now believe the internet is good for society, despite most still judging its benefits to outweigh the risks.

Children report complex online experiences, with many enjoying their digital time while also acknowledging adverse effects such as the so-called ‘brain rot’ linked to endless scrolling.

Significant portions of young people’s screen time occur late at night on major platforms, raising concerns about well-being.

New rules requiring age checks for UK pornography sites prompted a surge in VPN use as people attempted to bypass restrictions, although numbers have since declined.

Young users increasingly turn to online tools such as ASMR for relaxation, yet many also encounter toxic self-improvement content and body shaming.

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OpenAI launches Agentic AI Foundation with industry partners

The US AI company, OpenAI, has co-founded the Agentic AI Foundation (AAIF) under the Linux Foundation alongside Anthropic, Block, Google, Microsoft, AWS, Bloomberg, and Cloudflare.

A foundation that aims to provide neutral stewardship for open, interoperable agentic AI infrastructure as systems move from experimental prototypes into real-world applications.

The initiative includes the donation of OpenAI’s AGENTS.md, a lightweight Markdown file designed to provide agents with project-specific instructions and context.

Since its release in August 2025, AGENTS.md has been adopted by more than 60,000 open-source projects, ensuring consistent behaviour across diverse repositories and frameworks. Contributions from Anthropic and Block will include the Model Context Protocol and the goose project, respectively.

By establishing AAIF, the co-founders intend to prevent ecosystem fragmentation and foster safe, portable, and interoperable agentic AI systems.

The foundation provides a shared platform for development, governance, and extension of open standards, with oversight by the Linux Foundation to guarantee neutral, long-term stewardship.

OpenAI emphasises that the foundation will support developers, enterprises, and the wider open-source community, inviting contributors to help shape agentic AI standards.

The AAIF reflects a collaborative effort to advance agentic AI transparently and in the public interest while promoting innovation across tools and platforms.

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