More than half of US teenagers use AI tools to help with schoolwork, according to a new Pew Research Center study. The survey found that 54% of students aged 13 to 17 have used chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Microsoft’s Copilot to research assignments or solve maths problems.
Usage has risen in recent years. In 2024, 26% of US teens reported using ChatGPT for schoolwork, up from 13% in 2023. The latest survey of 1,458 teens and parents found 44% use AI for some schoolwork, while 10% rely on chatbots for most tasks.
Researchers say AI assistance is becoming routine in classrooms. Colleen McClain, a senior researcher at Pew and co-author of the report, said chatbot use for schoolwork is now a common practice among teens.
Findings come amid an intensifying debate over generative AI in education. Supporters argue that schools should teach students to use and evaluate AI tools, while critics warn of misinformation, reduced critical thinking, and increased cheating.
Recent research has raised questions about learning outcomes. One study by Cambridge University Press & Assessment and Microsoft Research found that students who took notes without chatbot support showed stronger reading comprehension than those using AI assistance.
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China has made its self-developed quantum computer operating system, Origin Pilot, available for public download, marking a significant step toward expanding access to quantum computing technology. Officials expect the move to lower barriers to development and accelerate the growth of the national quantum ecosystem.
Developed by Hefei-based Origin Quantum Computing Technology, the system was first introduced in 2021 and has undergone several upgrades. The platform now supports multiple technological approaches, including superconducting, ion-trap, and neutral-atom quantum processors.
Origin Pilot manages key computing functions, including resource scheduling and coordination between software and hardware systems. Features including parallel task processing and automatic qubit calibration aim to improve the efficiency and stability of quantum operations.
Opening unified programming interfaces allows research institutions, universities and developers worldwide to connect to Chinese quantum chips and conduct programming through independent frameworks. Project leaders say users can download the system directly from the company’s official website and begin quantum development activities.
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AI should be integrated into classrooms in Luxembourg rather than avoided, according to Gilbert Busana of the University of Luxembourg. Speaking to RTL Today in Luxembourg, he said ignoring AI would be a disservice to pupils and teachers alike.
Busana argued that AI should be taught both as a standalone subject and across disciplines in Luxembourg schools. Clear guidelines are needed to define when and how pupils may use AI, alongside transparency about its role in assignments.
He stressed that developing AI literacy in Luxembourg is essential to protect critical thinking. Assessment methods may shift away from focusing solely on final outputs towards evaluating the learning process itself.
Teachers in Luxembourg are increasingly becoming coaches rather than simple transmitters of knowledge. Busana said continuous professional training and collaboration within schools in Luxembourg will be vital as AI reshapes education.
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Researchers at Kyoto University have presented an AI robot monk designed to assist with religious ceremonies and spiritual guidance. The prototype, revealed at Shoren-in temple, demonstrates how robotics and faith traditions may coexist.
Equipped with an AI system based on Buddhist scriptures, the robot answers questions about personal struggles and wider social concerns. During a demonstration, it offered reflective advice while performing gestures such as bowing and placing its palms together.
Developers combined a chatbot powered by modern language technology with movements from an existing humanoid robot built by a Chinese manufacturer. Careful programming aimed to reproduce calm behaviour associated with traditional monks.
Japan faces a gradual decline in the number of active temples and clergy, encouraging the exploration of technological support within religious life. Project leaders believe the AI monk could represent a significant shift in preserving spiritual services for future communities.
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Brewer Heineken has appointed Romain Apert as chief digital and technology officer, placing AI at the forefront of efforts to simplify operations and drive transformation. He will join the company’s executive team on 15 May.
Apert joins from Mars, where he served as chief information officer for the petcare division, bringing extensive experience in global technology leadership. He succeeds Ronald den Elzen, who leaves the company after a 31-year career.
The appointment forms part of Heineken’s strategy to use technology and data to streamline processes and strengthen efficiency across the business. AI is expected to play a central role in supporting these ambitions.
Company leadership views digital innovation as essential to future growth as the brewer continues modernising its operations worldwide. The transition marks a new phase in embedding technology deeper into Heineken’s organisational strategy.
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The Central Bank of the UAE has partnered with Abu Dhabi-based AI company Core42 to develop a sovereign financial cloud infrastructure in the UAE. The system is designed to ensure data sovereignty and strengthen protection against cyber threats.
According to the Central Bank of the UAE, the platform will operate on a centralised, highly secure and isolated infrastructure. It aims to support continuous financial services while boosting operational agility across the UAE.
The infrastructure will be powered by AI and provide automation and real-time data analysis for licensed institutions in the UAE. It will also enable unified management of multi-cloud services within a single regulatory framework.
Core42, established by G42 in 2023, said finance must remain sovereign as it relies on digital infrastructure. The Central Bank of the UAE described the project as a key pillar of its financial infrastructure transformation programme.
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Multimodal sensing allows physical AI systems to combine inputs such as vision, audio, lidar and touch to build situational awareness in real time. The approach enables machines to operate autonomously in complex physical environments.
The architecture typically includes input modules for individual sensors, a fusion module to combine relevant data, and an output module to generate actions. Applications range from robotics and autonomous vehicles to spatial AI systems navigating dynamic 3D spaces.
Fusion techniques vary by use case, from Bayesian networks for uncertainty management to Kalman filters for navigation and neural networks for robotic manipulation. The aim is to leverage complementary sensor strengths while maintaining reliability.
Implementation presents technical challenges including environmental noise filtering, calibration across time and space, and balancing redundant versus complementary sensing. Engineers must also manage tradeoffs in processing power, controllers and system design.
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UiPath has unveiled new agentic AI solutions for healthcare providers and payers. The tools focus on medical record summarisation, claim denial prevention, and prior authorisation, connecting data to speed workflows and improve efficiency.
Healthcare organisations face labour shortages and fragmented systems, making revenue cycle management challenging. Providers produce large volumes of clinical documentation that must be quickly turned into actionable insights for accurate reimbursement.
The platform converts records into concise, citation-backed summaries, automates claim review and appeals, and streamlines eligibility checks. AI predicts risks, reduces errors, and accelerates clinical and administrative processes for providers and payers alike.
UiPath partners with innovators such as Genzeon to embed domain expertise. The solution addresses rising costs, complex regulations, and labour challenges, helping teams make data-driven decisions and improve patient outcomes.
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Low solubility and poor bioavailability remain major hurdles in small-molecule drug development, often preventing promising candidates from reaching clinical trials. Traditional trial-and-error methods are time-consuming and depend heavily on the limited availability of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
AI and machine learning now provide predictive models that anticipate solubility, permeability and systemic exposure. These tools let scientists prioritise high-impact experiments while conserving valuable material.
Digital platforms combine predictive algorithms with stability testing to guide excipient and technology selection. AI can simulate molecular interactions and dose scenarios, helping teams identify risks early and refine first-in-human doses safely.
End-to-end AI/ML workflows integrate data, modelling and manufacturing insights. However, this accelerates development timelines, lowers the risk of late-stage reformulations and connects early formulation choices directly to clinical and manufacturing outcomes.
While AI enhances efficiency and precision, it does not replace human expertise. It amplifies formulation scientists’ work, freeing them to focus on innovative design, problem-solving and delivering high-quality therapies to patients more rapidly.
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Large language models are designed to mimic human conversation, but treating them like people can mislead users. Politeness, flattery, or threats do not consistently improve the accuracy of AI responses.
Experts recommend focusing on how questions are structured rather than on word choice. Asking for multiple options, giving examples, and conducting step-by-step interviews can make AI outputs more relevant and useful.
Role-playing may be effective for creative or exploratory tasks, but it can reduce reliability when precise answers are required. AI models are constantly updated, making old prompting tricks largely ineffective.
Maintaining neutrality in prompts prevents biased responses, and while politeness may not improve AI performance, it can make interactions more comfortable. Developing careful prompt strategies is more effective than relying on manners alone.
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