As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, Americans have expressed mixed feelings about its role in job hiring. A survey conducted by Talker Research between October 21-24 revealed that 43% of respondents felt uneasy with AI conducting job interviews, while 32% were comfortable. Generational differences were also evident, with younger generations, particularly Gen Z, more accepting of AI-led interviews than older generations like Baby Boomers.
Despite the concerns, AI’s role in recruitment continues to grow. Philip Gjørup, co-founder of Nord Comms, believes AI could revolutionise the hiring process by swiftly identifying key attributes in candidates. Similarly, Lars Nyman from CUDO Compute points out that AI is already used to assess resumes and assess initial candidate fit, making AI-led interviews a logical next step.
However, AI faces limitations in capturing the personal touch needed in job interviews. While experts agree that AI can streamline recruitment, they also acknowledge that nuanced interpersonal skills, which are vital in interviews, remain beyond the capabilities of current AI technology.
The rising use of AI in hiring has raised concerns about the dehumanising effects of algorithms making important career decisions. Many worry about a lack of empathy in the process, with some likening it to pitching one’s career story to a ‘vending machine.’ As AI technology develops, it may take more time for people to adapt to its growing presence in the hiring process.
Israeli startup Panjaya.ai has raised $9.5 million in funding to develop BodyTalk, an AI-powered platform that translates content while synchronising lip movements and body gestures. The platform offers natural, accurate translations in any language, creating a seamless viewing experience across cultures. The funding was provided by Viola Ventures, R-Squared Ventures, GroundUp Ventures, and a number of notable angel investors.
Co-founded by Hilik Shani and Ariel Shalom, Panjaya aims to revolutionise AI translations. In 2023, the company was joined by Guy Piekarz, former Match co-founder and Apple executive, who now serves as CEO. By blending neural voice synthesis, computer vision, and Natural Language Processing (NLP), the platform enables organisations to provide culturally authentic experiences to diverse audiences.
The pilot programme of BodyTalk has already proven successful, with TED integrating the platform into its global content strategy. TED has used BodyTalk to translate Talks into multiple languages, including Portuguese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The AI ensures that translated content feels authentic to the original message, enhancing engagement for international audiences.
Panjaya’s platform is designed to offer something rare in digital communication: an authentic, culturally nuanced translation experience. CEO Guy Piekarz highlighted the significance of synchronisation in delivering content that truly resonates with global audiences. BodyTalk aims to set a new standard for multilingual communication, making it more impactful and inclusive.
Adobe has unveiled new AI tools that allow users to create modified images from its stock photo library while ensuring the original creators are compensated. The software giant, known for products like Photoshop, has been rapidly integrating AI into its platform as it faces competition from newer firms like OpenAI. Adobe‘s strategy focuses on making AI-generated content legally safe for commercial use and guaranteeing fair payments for artists.
The newly released tools enable customers to take stock images and modify them with AI to meet specific requirements. Adobe compensates the original image creators as if their unmodified work was used, ensuring fair earnings. Matthew Smith, Adobe’s vice president for strategy, design, and emerging products, emphasised that the goal is to enhance creative possibilities, not replace traditional stock imagery or artists.
Smith also highlighted the demand for flexible content creation. While some users prefer generating images from text prompts, many still need to adapt conventional stock images to fulfil their unique purposes. Generative AI, he said, provides an opportunity for creatives to increase their potential earnings by making their contributions more adaptable.
China Mobile and ZTE have launched an AI-driven Green Telco Cloud solution designed to optimise energy consumption in telecom networks while maintaining business continuity and a high-quality user experience. The solution monitors and analyses key parameters such as server load and network traffic in real-time, dynamically adjusting computing resources like CPU frequency and sleep modes by utilising advanced deep neural networks.
The energy-saving approach has been successfully validated on both X86 and ARM cloud platforms, with notable results in China Mobile’s Hunan and Anhui branches, demonstrating up to a 25% reduction in energy consumption. As a result, the solution lowers operational costs through improved resource utilisation and reduced equipment maintenance and contributes to global sustainability efforts by reducing carbon emissions. Therefore, that technology represents a significant step toward transforming the telecom industry into a more energy-efficient, green sector as 4G and 5G networks expand.
Furthermore, China Mobile and ZTE are committed to further optimising and expanding their AI-driven Green Telco Cloud solution to promote long-term sustainability in the telecom sector. Through their collaboration, both companies emphasise the importance of technological innovation in achieving environmental goals while simultaneously enhancing telecom operators’ corporate image and competitiveness. Additionally, they plan to drive the widespread adoption of energy-saving technologies, ensuring that the telecom industry contributes to a greener, low-carbon future.
AI-powered search engine Perplexity has started testing advertisements in the US, marking its first foray into ad-based monetisation. These ads appear as ‘sponsored follow-up questions,’ offering suggestions like ‘How can I use LinkedIn to enhance my job search?’ They are labelled and displayed alongside AI-generated answers without altering the platform’s objectivity or user privacy.
The company views advertising as essential for sustainable revenue growth, complementing its premium subscription service. Perplexity is partnering with brands like Indeed and Whole Foods, emphasising its ability to connect advertisers with high-income, educated audiences. However, critics have raised concerns about the platform’s reach and allegations of plagiarism, including lawsuits from major publishers like Dow Jones and The New York Times.
With pressure to diversify income streams, Perplexity is exploring ad formats as it approaches a potential $9B valuation. It remains committed to refining its tools and addressing industry concerns while adapting its platform for broader monetisation.
Google is testing an AI-driven feature for YouTube Shorts, allowing creators to alter licensed audio tracks to fit different styles or genres. Part of YouTube’s Dream Track experiment, the feature lets select creators customise songs by simply describing their desired transformation, such as changing the music genre. YouTube’s AI then generates a 30-second soundtrack for the creator’s short video, maintaining the original vocals and lyrics.
The experimental tool has clear attribution rules, ensuring viewers can see that the song has been restyled with AI. Videos featuring these AI-enhanced tracks will display the original song information and note that AI was used to alter the sound. This setup helps protect the rights of original music creators while giving video makers new artistic possibilities.
The Dream Track experiment has been in testing since last year, initially giving creators access to AI-generated artist voices with approved songs. This latest feature now expands to allow broader soundtrack customisation within Shorts, aiming to boost creator flexibility and viewer engagement.
Separately, YouTube is testing a swipe-up feature for its Android app, making it easier to navigate between videos. Available to a limited number of users, the swipe-up gesture now brings a navigation method similar to Instagram Reels, potentially signalling an interface shift across YouTube’s mobile platform.
South Korea’s ruling party has proposed a new chips act designed to offer subsidies to chipmakers and provide an exemption from the national cap on working hours. The legislation comes as the country faces increased competition from rivals in China, Taiwan, and other nations, along with potential risks from measures threatened by incoming United States President Donald Trump. The semiconductor sector is crucial for South Korea‘s economy, accounting for 16% of total exports last year.
President Yoon Suk Yeol recently warned of challenges posed by Trump’s threat of steep tariffs on Chinese imports, which could lead Chinese rivals to cut export prices and impact South Korean chip firms abroad. The bill, which requires approval from the main opposition party, also includes provisions allowing extended working hours for some research and development employees. However, Samsung’s labour union has opposed this, arguing that the company is deflecting blame for its financial struggles.
Samsung has apologised for disappointing profits as it lags behind competitors like TSMC and SK Hynix in the AI chip market. Global competition has intensified as countries like China, Japan, and the United States have been subsidising their chip manufacturers. In a recent statement, lawmaker Lee Chul-gyu stressed that the proposed act would help South Korean companies remain competitive amid the ongoing semiconductor trade tensions between the United States and China.
Sales of AI-capable PCs surged to 13.3 million units in Q3 2024, making up 20 per cent of total PC shipments, according to Canalys. Defined by features like dedicated AI chipsets, these devices gained traction as more users explore on-device AI functions. Windows PCs led this segment, with a 53 per cent market share, marking the first time Windows devices dominated AI-capable PC shipments.
The expansion of Windows 11 and processor advancements are expected to fuel further adoption, although challenges remain. Convincing consumers to invest in AI-enabled PCs is essential as applications for on-device AI evolve. Canalys noted the introduction of Snapdragon X-series chips, AMD’s Ryzen AI products, and Intel’s Lunar Lake processors, all aligning with this trend.
However, support for Microsoft’s AI-driven Copilot+ on x86 chipsets is awaited. Although new devices show promise, many channel partners remain cautious. A recent survey indicated 31 per cent of partners are not planning to offer Copilot+ PCs in 2025, with another 34 per cent forecasting minimal sales of these premium models.
With Windows 10 nearing end-of-support, upcoming quarters present a pivotal moment to encourage upgrades. Moving users to AI-enabled PCs could modernise an ageing PC base, opening new pathways for AI use on personal devices.
India’s technology workforce is expected to expand significantly by 2028, creating an estimated 2.73 million new tech jobs, according to a ServiceNow report. As AI transforms industries nationwide, the overall workforce in India is projected to increase by 33.89 million, rising from 423.73 million in 2023 to 457.62 million. This growth is anticipated to bring a wave of new opportunities for professionals, particularly in tech-focused roles.
The retail sector is expected to drive the bulk of new employment, requiring nearly seven million additional workers as it adapts to tech innovations. Job opportunities in retail will increasingly demand skills in software development and data engineering, aligning with a broader shift towards a tech-enabled workforce. Other sectors set for growth include manufacturing, which anticipates 1.5 million new roles, as well as education and healthcare, each expected to see hundreds of thousands of new job openings.
ServiceNow’s research underscores the need for upskilling initiatives to support this tech-driven transition. Companies and policymakers are urged to work together in facilitating training efforts, ensuring a seamless shift for professionals moving into technical roles. Strategic investments in tech skills will also provide pathways for individuals to pursue advanced digital careers across various industries.
Demand for tech roles such as Software Application Developers, Systems Software Developers, and Data Engineers is expected to soar, with tens of thousands of new positions in these fields. Other high-demand roles include Web Developers, Data Analysts, and Software Testers, reflecting a growing need for skilled professionals to support expanding digital economy in India.
In a significant rise, over 5 million Koreans used the ChatGPT app in October, a sevenfold jump from the previous year, according to data from WiseappㆍRetailㆍGoods. This surge marks a milestone, with around 10 percent of smartphone users in Korea, totalling 51.2 million, now engaging with ChatGPT regularly.
Reports reveal that Korean users are also spending more time on the app, averaging 51.6 minutes each month—an increase of 20 minutes compared to last year. Frequency of use has similarly grown, with users logging into ChatGPT around 5.7 days a month, up from 3.2 days last year.
The increase in Korea is part of a larger global trend, with ChatGPT visits worldwide reaching 3.1 billion in September, a dramatic 112 percent increase year-on-year. This global growth underscores the rising appeal and practicality of AI applications like ChatGPT.
Analysts attribute this trend to ChatGPT’s expanding capabilities, making it a versatile tool for both personal and professional use. As more people discover its potential, ChatGPT’s popularity is expected to continue climbing globally and within Korea.
