Development

India expands job access with AI-powered worker platforms

India is reshaping support for its vast informal workforce through e-Shram, a national database built to connect millions of people to social security and better job prospects.

The database works together with the National Career Service portal, and both systems run on Microsoft Azure.

AI tools are now improving access to stable employment by offering skills analysis, resume generation and personalised career pathways.

The original aim of e-Shram was to create a reliable record of informal workers after the pandemic exposed major gaps in welfare coverage. Engineers had to build a platform capable of registering hundreds of millions of people while safeguarding sensitive data.

Azure’s scalable infrastructure allowed the system to process high transaction volumes and maintain strong security protocols. Support reached remote areas through a network of service centres, helped further by Bhashini, an AI language service offering real-time translation in 22 Indian languages.

More than 310 million workers are now registered and linked to programmes providing accident insurance, medical subsidies and housing assistance. The integration with NCS has opened paths to regulated work, often with health insurance or retirement savings.

Workers receive guidance on improving employability, while new features such as AI chatbots and location-focused job searches aim to help those in smaller cities gain equal access to opportunities.

India is using the combined platforms to plan future labour policies, manage skill development and support international mobility for trained workers.

Officials also hope the digital systems will reduce reliance on job brokers and strengthen safe recruitment, including abroad through links with the eMigrate portal.

The government has already presented the platforms to international partners and is preparing to offer them as digital public infrastructure for other countries seeking similar reforms.

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ChatGPT tops Apple’s 2025 app downloads in the US

Apple has released its annual ranking of the most downloaded apps and games, with ChatGPT taking the top spot among free iPhone apps in the United States for 2025, marking a major moment for AI in mainstream consumer use.

The OpenAI chatbot rose from fourth place last year, surpassing established social platforms and everyday utilities. Its ascent highlights how quickly AI-driven tools have become embedded in daily habits and how they may challenge the dominance of traditional search apps on mobile devices.

Apple’s charts show broader shifts across categories. Threads, Google, TikTok, WhatsApp, and Instagram also ranked highly among free iPhone downloads, while Google’s Gemini entered the top ten, reflecting the growing presence of competing AI assistants in the mobile ecosystem.

Gaming trends remained strong. Block Blast! led the US free iPhone games list, while Minecraft held its position as the top paid title across devices. ChatGPT also became the second-most downloaded free app on iPad, signalling consistent demand for AI across screens.

Apple says the rankings reflect the evolving mix of entertainment, creativity, and productivity tools shaping the App Store landscape, as AI continues to influence how people search, work, and play across its platforms.

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DeVry improves student support with AI

In the US, DeVry University has upgraded its student support system by deploying Salesforce Agentforce 360, aiming to offer faster and more personalised assistance to its 32,000 learners.

The new AI agents provide round-the-clock support for DeVryPro, the university’s online learning programme, ensuring students receive timely guidance.

The platform also simplifies course enrolment through a self-service website, allowing learners to manage enrolment and payments efficiently. Real-time guidance replaces the previous chatbot, helping students access course information and support outside regular hours.

With Data 360 integrating information from multiple systems, DeVry can deliver personalised recommendations while automating time-consuming tasks such as weekly onboarding.

Advisors can now focus on building stronger connections with students and supporting the development of workforce skills.

University leaders emphasise that these advancements reflect a commitment to preparing learners for an AI-driven workforce, combining innovative technology with personalised academic experiences. The initiative positions DeVry as a leader in integrating AI into higher education.

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Seven teams advance in XPRIZE contest backed by Google

XPRIZE has named seven finalist teams in its three-year, $5 million Quantum Applications competition, a global challenge backed by Google Quantum AI, Google.org, and GESDA to accelerate real-world quantum computing use cases.

Selected from 133 submissions, the finalists are developing quantum algorithms that could outperform classical systems on practical tasks linked to sustainability, science, and industry. They will share a $1 million prize at this stage, ahead of a $4 million award pool in 2027.

Google says the competition supports its goal of finding concrete problems where quantum systems can beat leading classical methods. The finalists span materials science, chemistry, optimisation, and biomedical modelling, showing growing momentum behind application-driven research.

The teams include Calbee Quantum, Gibbs Samplers, Phasecraft’s materials group, QuMIT, Xanadu, Q4Proteins, and QuantumForGraphproblem, each proposing algorithms with potential impact ranging from clean-energy materials and advanced semiconductors to drug discovery and molecular analysis.

Finalists now proceed to Phase II, which focuses on benchmarking against classical tools, assessing feasibility, and demonstrating pathways to real-world advantage. A wildcard round in 2026 will offer re-entry for other teams.

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Multimodal AI reveals new immune patterns across cancer types

A recent study examined the capabilities of GigaTIME, a multimodal AI framework that models the tumour immune microenvironment by converting routine H and E slides into virtual multiplex immunofluorescence images.

Researchers aimed to solve long-standing challenges in profiling tumour ecosystems by using a scalable and inexpensive technique instead of laboratory methods that require multiple samples and extensive resources.

The study focused on how large image datasets could reveal patterns of protein activity that shape cancer progression and therapeutic response.

GigaTIME was trained on millions of matched cells and applied to more than fourteen thousand slides drawn from a wide clinical network. The system generated nearly 300.000 virtual images and uncovered over 1000 associations between protein channels and clinical biomarkers.

Spatial features such as sharpness, entropy and signal variability were often more informative than density alone, revealing immune interactions that differ strongly across cancer types.

When tested on external tumour collections, the framework maintained strong performance and consistently exceeded the results of comparator models.

The study reported that GigaTIME could identify patterns linked to tumour invasion, survival and stage. Protein combinations offered a clearer view of immune behaviour than single markers, and the virtual signatures aligned with known and emerging genomic alterations.

Certain proteins were easier to infer than others, which reflected structural differences at the cellular level rather than model limitations. The research also suggested that immune evasion mechanisms may shift during advanced disease, altering how proteins such as PD-L1 contribute to tumour progression.

The authors argued that virtual multiplex imaging could expand access to spatial proteomics for both research and clinical practice.

Wider demographic representation and broader protein coverage are necessary for future development, yet the approach demonstrated clear potential to support large population studies instead of the restricted datasets produced through traditional staining methods.

Continued work seeks to build a comprehensive atlas and refine cell-level segmentation to deepen understanding of immune and tumour interactions.

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Pinterest’s generative tools showcased in AWS report

AWS has released a new case study showing how Pinterest scaled into an AI-powered discovery platform, emphasising the cloud provider’s role in supporting rapid growth and responsible use of generative tools across the service.

AWS says Pinterest now serves around 600 million users and relies on cloud infrastructure to process large visual datasets. Its systems analyse terabytes of content each day and generate high volumes of personalised suggestions across search, shopping, and inspiration features.

The case study details Pinterest’s move from early machine-learning models to multimodal and generative systems built on AWS. It highlights Canvas for image enhancement, improved visual search, and the conversational Pinterest Assistant.

AWS also points to Pinterest’s use of Amazon EKS, EC2 GPU instances, and Bedrock-powered moderation tools as a full-stack approach to responsible AI. Pinterest states that these systems help maintain a safe and positive environment while supporting new commercial and creative features.

AWS cites recent performance metrics as evidence of effective scaling, noting gains in revenue, user activity, and search quality. The company presents the case study as evidence that cloud-based AI infrastructure can support innovation on a global scale.

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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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AI model predicts prediabetes with high accuracy

Researchers have developed an AI model that enhances prediabetes prediction by integrating oxidative stress markers with traditional clinical indicators. The Pattern Neural Network model achieved 98.3% accuracy in Indian adults, outperforming other machine learning methods.

Total antioxidant status emerged as a key predictor, with lower antioxidant capacity observed in individuals with prediabetes. Waist circumference and BMI were also highly informative, alongside glucose markers such as HbA1c and OGTT.

The inclusion of oxidative stress measures provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying metabolic risk.

The study used clinical and biochemical data from 199 adults, with the PNN trained on 14 features, including demographic and biochemical variables. High accuracy across all sets indicates strong potential for quick, low-cost screening and personalised early interventions.

While the results are promising, the single-centre design and limited sample size indicate that external validation is needed. Future studies should test the model in larger, multi-site cohorts and integrate longitudinal data to enhance its real-world applicability and public health impact.

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EU proposes easing environmental rules for datacentres and housing

The European Commission has proposed a significant overhaul of environmental rules, potentially exempting datacentres, AI facilities, and affordable housing from mandatory impact assessments.

Member states would retain discretion over whether such projects require full environmental scrutiny, as part of a broader plan to expedite permitting and reduce reporting obligations for businesses.

The package also repeals a hazardous chemical database, eases polluter obligations, and moves environmental management rules from individual plants to whole companies. The commission states that the changes could save firms €1 billion annually, but green groups warn of potential costs to health and biodiversity.

The proposals align with plans to modernise the EU electricity grid and new climate targets to reduce emissions by 90% compared to 1990. Experts have cautioned that loopholes allowing international carbon credits could weaken domestic emissions reductions.

Corporate sustainability laws are also being scaled back. The revised rules limit the number of companies covered, postpone compliance deadlines to 2029, and remove obligations to implement climate transition plans.

Business lobby groups have welcomed the changes as a more realistic approach to corporate social responsibility and due diligence.

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