Artificial intelligence

Ari Aster warns of AI’s creeping normality ahead of Eddington release

Ari Aster, the director behind Hereditary and Midsommar, is sounding the alarm on AI. In a recent Letterboxd interview promoting his upcoming A24 film Eddington, Aster described his growing unease with AI.

He framed it as a quasi-religious force reshaping reality in ways that are already irreversible. ‘If you talk to these engineers… they talk about AI as a god,’ said Aster. ‘They’re very worshipful of this thing. Whatever space there was between our lived reality and this imaginal reality — that’s disappearing.’

Aster’s comments suggest concern not just about the technology, but about the mindset surrounding its development. Eddington, set during the COVID-19 pandemic, is a neo-Western dark comedy.
It stars Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal as a sheriff and a mayor locked in a bitter digital feud.

The film reflects Aster’s fears about the dehumanising impact of modern technology. He drew from the ideas of media theorist Marshall McLuhan, referencing his phrase: ‘Man is the sex organ of the machine world.’ Aster asked, ‘Is this technology an extension of us, are we extensions of this technology, or are we here to usher it into being?’

The implication is clear: AI may not simply assist humanity—it might define it. Aster’s films often explore existential dread and loss of control. His perspective on AI taps into similar fears, but in real life. ‘The most uncanny thing about it is that it’s less uncanny than I want it to be,’ he said.

‘I see AI-generated videos, and they look like life. The longer we live in them, the more normal they become.’ The normalisation of artificial content strikes at the core of Aster’s unease. It also mirrors recent tensions in Hollywood over AI’s role in creative industries.

In 2023, WGA and SAG-AFTRA fought for protections against AI-generated scripts and likenesses. Their strike shut down the industry for months, but won language limiting AI use.

The battles highlighted the same issue Aster warns of—losing artistic agency to machines. ‘What happens when content becomes so seamless, it replaces real creativity?’ he seems to ask.

‘Something huge is happening right now, and we have no say in it,’ he said. ‘I can’t believe we’re actually going to live through this and see what happens. Holy cow.’ Eddington is scheduled for release in the United States on 18 July 2025.

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Southern Water uses AI to cut sewer floods

AI used in the sewer system has helped prevent homes in West Sussex from flooding, Southern Water has confirmed. The system was able to detect a fatberg in East Lavington before it caused damage.

The AI monitors sewer flow patterns and distinguishes between regular use, rainfall and developing blockages. On 16 June, digital sensors flagged an anomaly—leading teams to clear the fatberg before wastewater could flood gardens or homes.

‘We’re spotting hundreds of potential blockages before it’s too late,’ said Daniel McElhinney, proactive operations control manager at Southern Water. AI has reduced internal flooding by 40% and external flooding by 15%, the utility said.

Around 32,000 sewer level monitors are in place, checking for unusual flow activity that could signal a blockage or leak. Blocked sewers remain the main cause of pollution incidents, according to the company.

‘Most customers don’t realise the average sewer is only the size of an orange,’ McElhinney added. Even a small amount of cooking fat, combined with unflushable items, can lead to fatbergs and serious disruption.

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United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies

On 1 January 2025, the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology transitioned to a new UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET). This historic development flows from a decision by the UNGA on 24 December 2024, following the adoption of the GDC at the Summit of the Future in September 2024.

The establishment of ODET reflects the growing importance of a coordinated, inclusive and multistakeholder approach to the governance of technologies anchored in the UN Charter, human rights, and the sustainable development agenda.  With a strengthened mandate, ODET helps the UN address more effectively the opportunities and challenges posed by today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. A key focus for the office is supporting the follow-up and implementation of the GDC, including its decisions on the governance of AI.

Digital activities

iOn 1 January 2025, the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology transitioned to a new UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET). This historic development flows from a decision by the UNGA on 24 December 2024, following the adoption of the GDC at the Summit of the Future in September 2024.

The establishment of ODET reflects the growing importance of a coordinated, inclusive and multistakeholder approach to the governance of technologies anchored in the UN Charter, human rights, and the sustainable development agenda.  With a strengthened mandate, ODET helps the UN address more effectively the opportunities and challenges posed by today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. A key focus for the office is supporting the follow-up and implementation of the GDC, including its decisions on the governance of AI.

Digital policy issues

Global Digital Compact

Adopted by world leaders in September 2024 at the Summit of the Future in New York, the GDC is a comprehensive framework for global governance of digital technology and AI. Twenty years after the WSIS, it charts a roadmap for global digital cooperation to harness the immense potential of digital technology and close digital divides.

Negotiated by 193 member states and informed by global consultations, the GDC commits governments to upholding international law and human rights online and to taking concrete steps to make the digital space safe and secure.

The GDC recognises the critical contributions of the private sector, technical communities, researchers, and civil society to digital cooperation. It calls on all stakeholders to engage in realising an open, safe, and secure digital future for all.

The GDC pledges a range of ambitious actions. To close all digital divides and deliver an inclusive digital economy, it calls for connecting all people, schools, and hospitals to the internet; making digital technologies more accessible and affordable to everyone, including in diverse languages and formats; increasing investment in digital public goods and digital public infrastructure; and supporting women, youth innovators, and SMEs.

To build an inclusive, open, safe, and secure digital space, the GDC calls for strengthening legal and policy frameworks to protect children online; ensuring that the internet remains open, global, stable, and secure; and promoting access to independent, fact-based, and timely information to counter mis- and disinformation.

To strengthen international data governance and govern AI for humanity, it supports the development of interoperable national data governance frameworks; the establishment of an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance; and the development of AI capacity-building partnerships, including consideration of a Global Fund on AI.

ODET is facilitating the GDC’s endorsement process and supporting the integration of its commitments into the updated WSIS framework. This approach aims to strengthen existing structures while avoiding duplication, with both processes aligned in their vision of an inclusive, safe, secure, and human-centred digital society. Implementation and the WSIS+20 review will continue through 2025, culminating in a high-level review in 2027.

Turning the GDC into action requires collective effort. Thousands of people and organisations contributed to its development, and all stakeholders are encouraged to engage in shaping a digital future for all.

AI governance 

To foster a globally inclusive approach to the governance of AI, the UN Secretary-General convened a multistakeholder High-level Advisory Body on AI for 12 months starting in October 2023. The 39 members, selected from over 2,000 nominations, and serving in their personal capacity, brought diverse expertise across public policy, science, technology, human rights, and more.

The Body engaged and consulted widely with existing and emerging initiatives and international organisations to bridge perspectives across stakeholder groups and networks. Working at speed, it delivered an interim report in two months, consulted over 2,000 stakeholders in five months, and released its final report, Governing AI for Humanity, in September 2024.

The report outlines a blueprint for addressing AI-related risks and sharing its benefits globally. It urges the UN to lay the foundations of the first globally inclusive and distributed AI governance architecture; proposes seven recommendations to address existing governance gaps; and calls on all governments and stakeholders to work together to foster development and protect human rights. It also proposes light institutional mechanisms to complement existing efforts and enable global cooperation on AI governance that is agile, adaptive, and effective in keeping pace with the technology’s rapid evolution.

An Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance, outcomes of the GDC 

Following the adoption of the GDC, member states agreed to continue collaborating on the development of new mechanisms to support the governance of AI. Two key proposals included in the GDC are the establishment of an Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence and the launch of a Global Dialogue on AI Governance.

These mechanisms aim to address the critical gaps identified by the Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Body on AI. At present, there is no single, impartial source of authoritative scientific knowledge on AI. As a result, policymakers face significant information asymmetries– both among themselves and in relation to leading AI developers. At the same time, international AI governance remains fragmented. Of the 193 UN member states, only seven currently participate in the seven most prominent global AI initiatives, leaving 118 countries, primarily in the Global South, without a voice in shaping global AI norms.

The Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance represent an important step toward building a more inclusive and coherent global governance architecture for AI, one grounded in international law and human rights. ODET is engaged in supporting the intergovernmental process co-facilitated by Costa Rica and Spain, appointed by the President of the General Assembly. An elements paper and zero draft were released in April 2025, reflecting inputs from consultations with member states and stakeholders.

ODET is also preparing a report on Innovative Voluntary Financing Options for AI capacity building, drawing on recommendations from the High-level Advisory Body on AI on a global fund to complement existing UN mechanisms. The report will be submitted to the General Assembly at its 80th session.

Understanding the implications of AI 

In June 2024, a special report was developed in partnership with the ILO on the topic of AI and the world of work. The publication, Mind the Divide: Shaping a Global Perspective on the Future of Work, offers recommendations for harnessing the potential of AI while mitigating its impacts on employment. It emphasises the importance of workforce empowerment, AI capacity building, and sustained social dialogue.

Digital Public Infrastructure

In his policy brief on A Global Digital Compact – an Open, Free and Secure Digital Future for All, the UN Secretary-General called for the development of common frameworks and standards for DPI. Like roads and bridges, DPI comprises digital building blocks that enable governments to deliver inclusive and secure services at scale. While some countries are deploying DPI rapidly, others are in the early stages of their digital transformation. Regardless of the stage, robust safeguards are essential to ensure DPI is safe, trusted, and inclusive for all.

To advance this agenda, ODET – together with the Government of Egypt, UNDP, ITU, the World Bank, and Co-Develop – hosted the inaugural Global DPI Summit in October 2024, convening participants from over 100 countries to explore the future of digital public infrastructure and exchange knowledge, practices, and experiences across regions.

In parallel, ODET and UNDP jointly stewarded the development of the Universal DPI Safeguards Framework to help unlock the full potential of DPI while mitigating its risks. The framework was shaped through collaborative, multistakeholder working groups with diverse experts from government, civil society, academia, donor institutions, and the private sector. It was informed by consultations with 12 international organisations and countries, and drew additional input from 13 public consultations and over 100 public contributions.

The resulting Universal Safeguards Framework includes more than 250 recommendations addressing both process and practice. It provides practical guidance to help stakeholders ensure that DPI implementation is inclusive, rights-based, and aligned with the SDGs. In 2025, a second cohort of working group members, along with an advisory body, is refining and advancing the framework toward implementation.

Open source

In his Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, the UN Secretary-General recognised the critical role of open source solutions in advancing the SDGs. Open source acts as a powerful equaliser in the global digital landscape, promoting equitable access to innovation regardless of economic status. By reducing costs and fostering local innovation and skill development, open source technologies enable countries at all levels of development to build tailored, context-specific solutions. Given its convening power and its role as a platform for governments, the UN is uniquely positioned to promote the effective use of open source across the public sector.

To support this effort, ODET has collaborated with OICT to host the OSPOs for Good Symposium—a global convening that brought together stakeholders from governments, civil society, and the open source community. With over 500 participants in 2024, the conference facilitated discussions on the governance, sustainability, and funding of open source technologies, responding to the growing urgency to accelerate digital cooperation in support of the SDGs. The 2024 edition also expanded its focus to explore how open source networks can foster international collaboration around digital public goods and digital public infrastructure, both within and across countries. The 2025 edition, revamped as UN Open Source Week, will take place from 16–20 June and feature a broader range of programming, including the UN Tech Over Hackathon, OSPOs for Good, a dedicated Digital Public Infrastructure Day, and a series of partner-organised side events.

Social media channels

LinkedIn: United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies

X: ODET_UN

Bluesky: ‪@unodet.bsky.social‬

YouTube: @UNODET

Contact: odet@un.org

Google launches Veo 3 video for Gemini users globally

Google has begun rolling out its Veo 3 video-generation model to Gemini users across more than 159 countries. The advanced AI tool allows subscribers to create short video clips simply by entering text prompts.

Access to Veo 3 is limited to those on Google’s AI Pro plan, and usage is currently restricted to three videos per day. The tool can generate clips lasting up to eight seconds, enabling rapid video creation for a variety of purposes.

Google is already developing additional features for Gemini, including the ability to turn images into videos, according to product director Josh Woodward.

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Deepfake abuse in schools raises legal and ethical concerns

Deepfake abuse is emerging as a troubling form of peer-on-peer harassment in schools, targeting mainly girls with AI-generated explicit imagery. Tools that once required technical skill are now easily accessible to young people, allowing harmful content to be created and shared in seconds.

Though all US states and Washington, D.C. have laws addressing the distribution of nonconsensual intimate images, many do not cover AI-generated content or address the fact that minors are often both victims and perpetrators.

Some states have begun adapting laws to include proportional sentencing and behavioural interventions for minors. Advocates argue that education on AI, consent and digital literacy is essential to address the root causes and help young people understand the consequences of their actions.

Regulating tech platforms and app developers is also key, as companies continue to profit from tools used in digital exploitation. Experts say schools, families, lawmakers and platforms must share responsibility for curbing the spread of AI-generated abuse and ensuring support for those affected.

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New digital stylist reshapes Mango’s e-commerce experience

Mango has launched a new AI-powered personal stylist designed to elevate the online shopping experience. Called Mango Stylist, the tool offers fashion advice and outfit suggestions based on each user’s preferences, creating a more interactive and intuitive way to browse.

Available through the Mango app and Instagram chat, the assistant uses natural language to provide styling tips and product recommendations tailored to the individual. It builds on Mango’s previous investment in generative AI and complements its existing customer service assistant, Iris.

The rollout is part of Mango’s broader 4E Strategic Plan, which prioritises technological innovation and customer engagement. By integrating Mango Stylist into its e-commerce platforms, the brand aims to streamline shopping and drive value across key markets, including the UK, Spain, Germany and the US.

Behind the scenes, Mango’s digital, data, and fashion teams collaborated on the project, drawing from over 15 machine learning platforms to fine-tune everything from pricing to product suggestions. The fashion chain sees this development as a major step towards delivering a seamless hybrid shopping experience.

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EU PREVAIL project opens Edge AI platform to users in June

The European Union’s PREVAIL project is preparing to open its Edge AI services to external users in June 2025.

Coordinated by Europe’s top research and technology organisations—CEA-Leti, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, imec, and VTT—the initiative offers a shared, multi-hub infrastructure designed to speed up the development and commercialisation of next-generation Edge AI technologies.

Through its platform, European designers will gain access to advanced chip prototyping capabilities and full design support using standard commercial tools.

PREVAIL combines commercial foundry processes with advanced technology modules developed in partner clean rooms. These include embedded non-volatile memories (eNVM), silicon photonics, and 3D integration technologies such as silicon interposers and packaging innovations.

Initial demonstrators, already in development with industry partners, will serve as test cases to ensure compatibility with a broad range of applications and future scalability.

From July 2025, a €20 million EU-funded call under the ‘Low Power Edge AI’ initiative will help selected customers co-finance their access to the platform. Whether supported by EU funds or independently financed, users will be able to design chips using one of four shared platforms.

The consortium has also set up a user interface team to manage technical support and provide access to Process Design Kits and Design Rule Manuals.

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Digital divination on demand

A growing number of people are turning to ChatGPT for spiritual insight, asking the AI to interpret dreams, deliver tarot readings or even channel messages from lost loved ones. Many describe these exchanges as oddly accurate or deeply comforting, praising the chatbot’s non-judgmental tone and round-the-clock availability.

For some, the experience borders on mystical. Users say ChatGPT feels like a mirror to their psyche, capable of sparking epiphanies or emotional release. The chatbot’s smooth, responsive dialogue can simulate wisdom, offering what feels like personalised guidance.

However, experts warn there are risks in mistaking machine learning for metaphysical truth. AI can invent responses, flatter users or reinforce biases, all without genuine understanding. Relying too heavily on a chatbot for spiritual clarity, psychologists say, may dull critical thinking or worsen underlying mental health struggles.

Still, others see promise in using AI as a reflective aid rather than a guru. Spiritual advisors suggest the tool may help frame questions or organise thoughts, but caution that lasting insight comes through lived experience, not code. In an era of instant answers, they say, meaningful growth still takes time, community and reflection.

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Robotics set to have a ChatGPT moment

Vinod Khosla, the venture capitalist behind early bets in OpenAI, predicts a breakthrough in robotics akin to ChatGPT will arrive within two to three years. He envisions adaptable, humanoid robots able to handle kitchen tasks, from chopping vegetables to washing dishes, for around £230 to £307 per month.

Current robots, particularly those from Chinese manufacturers, struggle in new environments and lack true self‑learning, a gap Khosla believes will soon close. He adds that while large established firms like Apple have not taken the lead, startups are where transformative innovation is most likely to come.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang sees a vast future in physical AI. Huang labels the robotics sector a multitrillion‑dollar opportunity and highlights autonomous vehicles as the first major commercial application. Similarly, Amazon plans to increase hiring in AI and robotics.

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Beware of fake deals as Prime Day approaches

A surge in online scams is expected ahead of Amazon’s Prime Day, which runs from 8 to 11 July, as fraudsters use increasingly sophisticated tactics. Advice Direct Scotland is issuing a warning to shoppers across Scotland: AI-enhanced phishing emails, bogus renewal notices, and fake refund offers are on the rise.

In one common ruse, scammers impersonate Amazon in messages stating your Prime membership has expired or that your account needs urgent verification. Others go further, claiming your Amazon account has been hacked and demanding remote access to your device, something the real company never does. Victims in Scotland reportedly lost around £860,000 last year to similar crime, as scam technology becomes more convincing.

Advice Direct Scotland reminds shoppers not to rush and to trust their instincts. Genuine Amazon communications will never ask for remote access, passwords, or financial information over email or phone. If in doubt, hang up and check your account via official channels, or reach out to the charity’s ScamWatch hotline.

Those seeking guidance can contact Advice Direct Scotland via phone or online chat, or report suspected scams using the free ScamWatch tool. With Prime Day bargains tempting many, staying vigilant could mean avoiding a costly mistake.

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