Nearly eight in ten UK secondary teachers say AI has forced a rethink of how assignments are set, a British Council survey finds. Many now design tasks either to deter AI use or to harness it constructively in lessons. Findings reflect rapid cultural and technological shifts across schools.
Approaches are splitting along two paths. Over a third of designers create AI-resistant tasks, while nearly six in ten purposefully integrate AI tools. Younger staff are most likely to adapt; yet, strong majorities across all age groups report changes to their practices.
Perceived impacts remain mixed. Six in ten worry about their communication skills, with some citing narrower vocabulary and weaker writing and comprehension skills. Similar shares report improvements in listening, pronunciation, and confidence, suggesting benefits for speech-focused learning.
Language norms are evolving with digital culture. Most UK teachers now look up slang and online expressions, from ‘rizz’ to ‘delulu’ to ‘six, seven’. Staff are adapting lesson design while seeking guidance and training that keeps pace with students’ online lives.
Long-term views diverge. Some believe AI could lift outcomes, while others remain unconvinced and prefer guardrails to limit misuse. British Council leaders say support should focus on practical classroom integration, teacher development, and clear standards that strike a balance between innovation and academic integrity.
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World Economic Forum President Borge Brende has warned that massive investments in AI and cryptocurrencies may create financial bubbles. Speaking in Berlin, he noted that $500 billion has been invested in AI this year, raising concerns about speculative bubbles in AI and cryptocurrency.
Brende described frontier technologies as a ‘big paradigm shift’ that could drive global growth, with potential productivity gains of up to 10% over the next decade. He noted that breakthroughs in medicine, synthetic biology, space, and energy could transform economies, but stressed that the benefits must be widely shared.
Geopolitical uncertainty remains a significant concern, according to Brende. He pointed to rising tensions between the US and China, calling it a race for technological dominance that could shape global power.
He also urged multilateral cooperation to address global challenges, including pandemics, cybercrime, and investment uncertainty.
Despite the disorder in world politics, Brende highlighted the resilience of economies like those in the US, China, and India. He called for patient investment strategies and stronger international coordination to ensure that new technologies translate into sustainable prosperity.
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Deutsche Telekom has joined the Theta Network as a strategic enterprise validator, alongside Google, Samsung and Sony. The company becomes the first major telecom provider to take part in securing the decentralised blockchain platform.
The partnership involves staking THETA tokens and operating validator nodes that support Theta’s layer-1 infrastructure for AI, cloud and media applications. Deutsche Telekom’s unit, T-Systems MMS, will manage the validator operations.
Theta Labs said the collaboration enhances network resilience and underlines growing enterprise interest in decentralised computing. The project’s EdgeCloud system is designed to distribute AI workloads across global nodes more efficiently.
Deutsche Telekom noted that Theta’s decentralised model aligns with its vision of providing reliable, scalable cloud and edge services for future digital ecosystems.
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Judges and employers are confronting a surge in AI-generated mistakes, from fabricated legal citations to inaccurate workplace data. Courts in the United States have already recorded hundreds of flawed filings, raising concerns about unchecked reliance on generative systems.
Experts urge professionals to treat AI as an assistant rather than an authority. Tools can support research and report writing, yet unchecked outputs often contain subtle inaccuracies that could mislead users or damage reputations.
Data scientist Damien Charlotin has identified nearly 500 court documents containing false AI-generated information within months. Even established firms have faced judicial penalties after submitting briefs with non-existent case references, underlining growing professional risks.
Workplace advisers recommend verifying AI results, protecting confidential information, and obtaining consent when using digital notetakers. Training and prompt literacy are becoming essential skills as AI tools continue shaping daily operations across industries.
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Adobe MAX Sneaks offered a glimpse into the company’s latest experimental technologies, where AI and creative tools intersect. Hosted by comedian and actress Jessica Williams, the event showcased how innovation is making creative work faster, more intuitive, and more engaging.
Highlights included Project Surface Swap for changing photo textures and Project Light Touch for adjusting lighting after capture. Other tools, such as Project Turn Style and Project Trace Erase, give creators greater control over 2D and 3D objects, enabling natural edits and dynamic storytelling.
Video and motion design also played a prominent role. Project Frame Forward enables creators to apply edits across entire videos from a single annotated frame, while Project Motion Map automatically animates static illustrations.
In sound, Project Sound Stager generates layered soundscapes based on video content, and Project Clean Take quickly refines dialogue for studio-quality audio.
Sneaks emphasises experimentation and community feedback, giving developers and artists a chance to explore bold ideas that could shape the next generation of creative tools. Many showcased projects could become key features, changing how creators work with images, video, and sound.
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Scientists at the University of Surrey have developed a new method to make artificial intelligence smarter by copying the way the human brain works. Their approach, called Topographical Sparse Mapping, connects AI ‘neurons’ only to nearby or related ones, mimicking how the brain organises information efficiently.
An advanced version, Enhanced Topographical Sparse Mapping, prunes unneeded connections during training, similar to how the brain strengthens useful pathways as it learns. Researchers are also exploring applications in neuromorphic computing, which designs computer systems to mimic the structure and function of the human brain.
The approach helps AI models, including tools like ChatGPT, work better while using less electricity. Traditional AI training can waste huge amounts of energy, but the new brain-inspired design cuts unnecessary connections without losing accuracy.
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Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, argues that AI should be built for people, not to replace them. Growing belief in chatbot consciousness risks campaigns for AI rights and a needless struggle over personhood that distracts from human welfare.
Debates over true consciousness miss the urgent issue of convincing imitation. Seemingly conscious AI may speak fluently, recall interactions, claim experiences, and set goals that appear to exhibit agency. Capabilities are close, and the social effects will be real regardless of metaphysics.
People already form attachments to chatbots and seek meaning in conversations. Reports of dependency and talk of ‘AI psychosis‘ show persuasive systems can nudge vulnerable users. Extending moral status to uncertainty, Suleyman argues, would amplify delusions and dilute existing rights.
Norms and design principles are needed across the industry. Products should include engineered interruptions that break the illusion, clear statements of nonhuman status, and guardrails for responsible ‘personalities’. Microsoft AI is exploring approaches that promote offline connection and healthy use.
A positive vision keeps AI empowering without faking inner life. Companions should organise tasks, aid learning, and support collaboration while remaining transparently artificial. The focus remains on safeguarding humans, animals, and the natural world, not on granting rights to persuasive simulations.
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AI is playing an increasingly important role in personal finance, with over 28 million UK adults using AI over the past year.
Lloyds Banking Group’s latest Consumer Digital Index reveals that many individuals turn to platforms like ChatGPT for budgeting, savings planning, and financial education, reporting an average annual savings of £399 through AI insights.
Digital confidence strongly supports financial empowerment. Two-thirds of internet users report that online tools enhance their ability to manage money, while those with higher digital skills experience lower stress and greater control over their finances.
Regular engagement with AI and other digital tools enhances both knowledge and confidence in financial decision-making.
Trust remains a significant concern despite growing usage. Around 80% of users worry about inaccurate information or insufficient personalisation, emphasising the need for reliable guidance.
Jas Singh, CEO of Consumer Relationships at Lloyds, highlights that banks must combine AI innovation with trusted expertise to help people make more intelligent choices and build long-term financial resilience.
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Saudi Arabia is accelerating its ambitions in AI with the launch of Humain, a homegrown AI company backed by the kingdom’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund. The company, financed by the Public Investment Fund, aims to offer a wide range of AI services and tools, including an Arabic large language model capable of understanding diverse dialects and observing Islamic values.
The company has secured major deals to expand its operations, including a $3 billion data centre project with Blackstone’s AirTrunk, a partnership with US chipmaker Qualcomm, and a significant stake acquisition by state-owned Saudi Aramco. The agreements aim to boost AI integration across the kingdom’s key sectors.
Challenges remain, from talent shortages to access to advanced technology, while regional competition is strong. Yet Humain’s leadership remains confident, aiming to position Saudi Arabia as a major player in the global AI landscape.
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Perplexity has unveiled new privacy features for its AI-powered browser, Comet, designed to give users clearer control over their data. The updates include a new homepage widget called Privacy Snapshot, which allows people to review and adjust privacy settings in one place.
The widget provides a real-time view of how Comet protects users online and simplifies settings for ad blocking, tracker management and data access. Users can toggle permissions for the Comet Assistant directly from the homepage.
Comet’s updated AI Assistant settings now show precisely how data is used, including where it is stored locally or shared for processing. Sensitive information such as passwords and payment details remain securely stored on the user’s device.
Perplexity said the changes reinforce its ‘privacy by default’ approach, an important principle in EU data protection law, combining ad blocking, safe browsing and transparent data handling. The new features are available in the latest Comet update across desktop and mobile platforms.
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