Sustainable development

London faces major job shifts as AI takes hold

Nearly a million jobs in London face change as AI reshapes the workplace.

New research suggests repetitive roles such as telemarketing, bookkeeping, and data entry will be among the most affected, with women at greater risk since they comprise much of the workforce in these sectors.

Analysts from LiveCareer UK and McKinsey reported that job adverts for roles most exposed to automation have dropped sharply in the past three years.

They warn that fewer entry-level opportunities could damage the future workforce unless businesses rethink how to balance automation with human creativity and judgement.

Some organisations are already adapting AI to support staff instead of replacing them. At Queen Elizabeth Hospital, a pharmaceutical robot works alongside clinicians, using AI to predict medicine demand and improve patient safety.

Leaders at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust argue AI should relieve staff of repetitive tasks so they can focus on higher-value care.

Across industries, firms from Ford to Microsoft predict significant disruption. Ford’s chief executive has suggested AI could replace half of white-collar roles in the US, while others argue it will boost productivity instead of eliminating jobs.

Tech companies such as Snap are experimenting with AI-driven creativity tools, insisting the technology should act as an aid for workers rather than a threat to employment.

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Hitachi launches AI Factory with NVIDIA

Hitachi has unveiled a global AI Factory built on NVIDIA’s reference architecture to accelerate the development of physical AI solutions.

The new platform uses Hitachi iQ systems powered by NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs, alongside the Spectrum-X networking platform, to deliver unified AI infrastructure for research and deployment.

Hitachi said the AI Factory will enhance its HMAX family of AI-enabled solutions across energy, mobility, industry, and technology sectors. It will allow models to interpret data from sensors and cameras, make decisions, and act in real-world environments.

The facility integrates NVIDIA AI Enterprise software and Omniverse libraries, enabling simulation and digital twin capabilities. Both firms describe the initiative as a key driver of social innovation, combining advanced AI computing with industrial applications.

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UNDP and RIPE NCC join forces for sustainable development

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Centre (RIPE NCC) have signed a new agreement to boost cooperation on digital development. The Memorandum of Understanding, announced in New York during the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week, focuses on building scalable, secure, and resilient internet infrastructure across the Arab States and beyond.

By combining UNDP’s development mandate with RIPE NCC’s technical expertise, the partnership aims to promote inclusive digital transformation and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNDP’s Abdallah Al Dardari stressed that digital transformation is now a ‘development imperative,’ while RIPE NCC CEO Hans Petter Holen highlighted that resilient internet systems are vital for innovation and growth.

The announcement took place as part of Digital@UNGA Week and came just ahead of UNDP’s High-Level Roundtable on Digital for Sustainable Development. At the roundtable, partners unveiled Morocco’s Digital for Sustainable Development Hub, underscoring the growing role of multi-stakeholder cooperation in shaping inclusive digital ecosystems worldwide.

For more information from the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, visit our dedicated page.

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Brazil to host massive AI-ready data centre by RT-One

RT-One plans to build Latin America’s largest AI data centre after securing land in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The US$1.2bn project will span over one million square metres, with 300,000 m² reserved as protected green space.

The site will support high-performance computing, sovereign cloud services, and AI workloads, launching with 100MW capacity and scaling to 400MW. It will run on 100% renewable energy and utilise advanced cooling systems to minimise its environmental impact.

RT-One states that the project will prepare Brazil to compete globally, generate skilled jobs, and train new talent for the digital economy. A wide network of partners, including Hitachi, Siemens, WEG, and Schneider Electric, is collaborating on the development, aiming to ensure resilience and sustainability at scale.

The project is expected to stimulate regional growth, with jobs, training programmes, and opportunities for collaboration between academia and industry. Local officials, including the mayor of Uberlândia, attended the launch event to underline government support for the initiative.

Once complete, the Uberlândia facility will provide sovereign cloud capacity, high-density compute, and AI-ready infrastructure for Brazil and beyond. RT-One says the development will position the city as a hub for digital innovation and strengthen Latin America’s role in the global AI economy.

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UN Secretary-General warns humanity cannot rely on algorithms

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged world leaders to act swiftly to ensure AI serves humanity rather than threatens it. Speaking at a UN Security Council debate, he warned that while AI can help anticipate food crises, support de-mining efforts, and prevent violence, it is equally capable of fueling conflict through cyberattacks, disinformation, and autonomous weapons.

‘Humanity’s fate cannot be left to an algorithm,’ he stressed.

Guterres outlined four urgent priorities. First, he called for strict human oversight in all military uses of AI, repeating his demand for a global ban on lethal autonomous weapons systems. He insisted that life-and-death decisions, including any involving nuclear weapons, must never be left to machines.

Second, he pressed for coherent international regulations to ensure AI complies with international law at every stage, from design to deployment. He highlighted the dangers of AI lowering barriers to acquiring prohibited weapons and urged states to build transparency, trust, and safeguards against misuse.

Finally, Guterres emphasised protecting information integrity and closing the global AI capacity gap. He warned that AI-driven disinformation could destabilise peace processes and elections, while unequal access risks leaving developing countries behind.

The UN has already launched initiatives, including a new international scientific panel and an annual AI governance dialogue, to foster cooperation and accountability.

‘The window is closing to shape AI, for peace, justice, and humanity,’ he concluded.

For more information from the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, visit our dedicated page.

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Meta expands global rollout of teen accounts for Facebook and Messenger

US tech giant Meta is expanding its dedicated teen accounts to Facebook and Messenger users worldwide, extending a safety system on Instagram. The move introduces more parental controls and restrictions to protect younger users on Meta’s platforms.

The accounts, now mandatory for teens, include stricter privacy settings that limit contact with unknown adults. Parents can supervise how their children use the apps, monitor screen time, and view who their teens are messaging.

For younger users aged 13 to 15, parental permission is required before adjusting safety-related settings. Meta is also deploying AI tools to detect teens lying about their age.

Alongside the global rollout, Instagram is expanding a school partnership programme in the US, allowing middle and high schools to report bullying and problematic behaviour directly.

The company says early feedback from participating schools has been positive, and the scheme is now open to all schools nationwide.

An expansion that comes as Meta faces lawsuits and investigations over its record on child safety. By strengthening parental controls and school-based reporting, the company aims to address growing criticism while tightening protections for its youngest users.

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AI robot ‘robin’ brings emotional support to children’s hospitals in USA

An AI-powered robot named Robin transforms patient care in the USA pediatric hospitals by offering emotional support and companionship to young patients.

Developed by Expper Technologies, Robin resembles a child in appearance and voice, engaging patients with games, music, and conversation. Its childlike demeanour helps ease anxiety, especially during stressful medical procedures.

Initially launched in Armenia, Robin now operates in 30 healthcare facilities across the USA, including Massachusetts, California, Indiana, and New York. Designed to combat healthcare staff shortages, the robot is about 30% autonomous, with remote human operators guiding its interactions under clinical supervision.

Robin’s emotional intelligence allows it to mirror patient expressions and respond with empathy, laughing, playing, or offering comfort when needed. Beyond paediatrics, it also assists elderly patients with dementia in nursing homes by leading breathing exercises and memory games.

With the USA facing a projected shortage of up to 86,000 physicians in the next decade, Robin’s creators aim to expand its capabilities to include monitoring vitals and assisting with basic physical care.

Despite concerns about AI replacing human roles, Expper CEO Karen Khachikyan emphasises Robin is intended to complement healthcare teams, not replace them, offering joy, relief, and a sense of companionship where it’s most needed.

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Uzbekistan positions itself as Central Asia’s new AI and technology hub

Using its largest-ever ICT Week, Uzbekistan is showcasing ambitions to become a regional centre for AI and digital transformation.

More than 20,000 participants, 300 companies, and delegations from over 50 countries gathered in Tashkent, signalling Central Asia’s growing role in the global technology landscape.

The country invests in AI projects across various sectors, including education, healthcare, banking, and industry, with more than 100 initiatives underway.

Officials emphasise that digitalisation must serve people directly, by improving services and creating jobs for Uzbekistan’s young and expanding population.

The demographic advantage is shaping a vision of AI that prioritises dignity, opportunity, and inclusive growth.

International recognition has followed. The UN’s International Telecommunication Union described Uzbekistan as ‘leading the way’ in the region, praising high connectivity, supportive policies, and progress in youth participation and gender equality.

Infrastructure is also advancing, with global investors like DataVolt building one of Central Asia’s most advanced data centres in Tashkent.

Uzbekistan’s private sector is also drawing attention. Fintech and e-commerce unicorn Uzum recently secured significant investment from Tencent and VR Capital, reaching a valuation above €1.3 billion.

Public policy and private investment are positioning the country as a credible AI hub connecting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

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The EU unveils VLQ quantum computer in Czech Republic

A new quantum computer has been inaugurated at the IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Centre in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The system is the second quantum computer launched under the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and forms part of Europe’s push to build its quantum infrastructure.

Developed by IQM Quantum Computers, VLQ houses 24 superconducting qubits arranged in a star-shaped topology, designed to reduce swap operations and improve efficiency.

The €5 million project was co-funded by EuroHPC JU and the LUMI-Q consortium, which includes partners from eight European countries. Scientists expect VLQ to accelerate progress in quantum AI, drug discovery, new material design, renewable energy forecasting, and security applications.

The Czech machine will not work in isolation. It is directly connected to the Karolina supercomputer and will later link to the LUMI system in Finland, enabling hybrid classical–quantum computations. Access will be open to researchers, companies, and the public sector across Europe by the end of 2025.

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UK sets up expert commission to speed up NHS adoption of AI

Doctors, researchers and technology leaders will work together to accelerate the safe adoption of AI in the NHS, under a new commission launched by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The body will draft recommendations to modernise healthcare regulation, ensuring patients gain faster access to innovations while maintaining safety and public trust.

MHRA stressed that clear rules are vital as AI spreads across healthcare, already helping to diagnose conditions such as lung cancer and strokes in hospitals across the UK.

Backed by ministers, the initiative aims to position Britain as a global hub for health tech investment. Companies including Google and Microsoft will join clinicians, academics, and patient advocates to advise on the framework, expected to be published next year.

A commission that will also review the regulatory barriers slowing adoption of tools such as AI-driven note-taking systems, which early trials suggest can significantly boost efficiency in clinical care.

Officials say the framework will provide much-needed clarity for AI in radiology, pathology, and virtual care, supporting the digital transformation of NHS.

MHRA chief executive Lawrence Tallon called the commission a ‘cultural shift’ in regulation. At the same time, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said it will ensure patients benefit from life-saving technologies ‘quickly and safely’.

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