Future of work

US lawsuits target social media platforms for deliberate child engagement designs

A landmark trial has begun in Los Angeles, accusing Meta and Google’s YouTube of deliberately addicting children to their platforms.

The case is part of a wider series of lawsuits across the US seeking to hold social media companies accountable for harms to young users. TikTok and Snap settled before trial, leaving Meta and YouTube to face the allegations in court.

The first bellwether case involves a 19-year-old identified as ‘KGM’, whose claims could shape thousands of similar lawsuits. Plaintiffs allege that design features were intentionally created to maximise engagement among children, borrowing techniques from slot machines and the tobacco industry.

A trial that may see testimony from executives, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and could last six to eight weeks.

Social media companies deny the allegations, emphasising existing safeguards and arguing that teen mental health is influenced by numerous factors, such as academic pressure, socioeconomic challenges and substance use, instead of social media alone.

Meta and YouTube maintain that they prioritise user safety and privacy while providing tools for parental oversight.

Similar trials are unfolding across the country. New Mexico is investigating allegations of sexual exploitation facilitated by Meta platforms, while Oakland will hear cases representing school districts.

More than 40 state attorneys general have filed lawsuits against Meta, with TikTok facing claims in over a dozen states. Outcomes could profoundly impact platform design, regulation and legal accountability for youth-focused digital services.

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EU telecom simplification at risk as Digital Networks Act adds extra admin

The ambitions of the EU to streamline telecom rules are facing fresh uncertainty after a Commission document indicated that the Digital Networks Act may create more administrative demands for national regulators instead of easing their workload.

The plan to simplify long-standing procedures risks becoming more complex as officials examine the impact on oversight bodies.

Concerns are growing among telecom authorities and BEREC, which may need to adjust to new reporting duties and heightened scrutiny. The additional requirements could limit regulators’ ability to respond quickly to national needs.

Policymakers hoped the new framework would reduce bureaucracy and modernise the sector. The emerging assessment now suggests that greater coordination at the EU level may introduce extra layers of compliance at a time when regulators seek clarity and flexibility.

The debate has intensified as governments push for faster network deployment and more predictable governance. The prospect of heavier administrative tasks could slow progress rather than deliver the streamlined system originally promised.

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Writing as thinking in the age of AI

In his article, Richard Gunderman argues that writing is not merely a way to present ideas but a core human activity through which people think, reflect and form meaning.

He contends that when AI systems generate text on behalf of users, they risk replacing this cognitive process with automated output, weakening the connection between thought and expression.

According to the piece, writing serves as a tool for reasoning, emotional processing and moral judgment. Offloading it to AI can diminish originality, flatten individual voice and encourage passive consumption of machine-produced ideas.

Gunderman warns that this shift could lead to intellectual dependency, where people rely on AI to structure arguments and articulate positions rather than developing those skills themselves.

The article also raises ethical concerns about authenticity and responsibility. If AI produces large portions of written work, it becomes unclear who is accountable for the ideas expressed. Gunderman suggests that overreliance on AI writing tools may undermine trust in communication and blur the line between human and machine authorship.

Overall, the piece calls for a balanced approach: AI may assist with editing or idea generation, but the act of writing itself should remain fundamentally human, as it is central to critical thinking, identity and social responsibility.

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Tech firms push longer working hours to compete in AI race

Tech companies competing in AI are increasingly expecting employees to work longer weeks to keep pace with rapid innovation. Some start-ups openly promote 70-hour schedules, presenting intense effort as necessary to launch products faster and stay ahead of rivals.

Investors and founders often believe that extended working hours improve development speed and increase the chances of securing funding. Fast growth and fierce global competition have made urgency a defining feature of many AI workplaces.

However, research shows productivity rises only up to a limit before fatigue reduces efficiency and focus. Experts warn that excessive workloads can lead to burnout and make it harder for companies to retain experienced professionals.

Health specialists link extended working weeks to higher risks of heart disease and stroke. Many experts argue that smarter management and efficient use of technology offer safer and more effective paths to lasting productivity.

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Pakistan pledges major investment in AI by 2030

Pakistan plans to invest $1 billion in AI by 2030, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said at the opening of Indus AI Week in Islamabad. The pledge aims to build a national AI ecosystem in Pakistan.

The government in Pakistan said AI education would expand to schools and universities, including remote regions. Islamabad also plans 1,000 fully funded PhD scholarships in AI to strengthen research capacity in Pakistan.

Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan would train one million non IT professionals in AI skills by 2030. Islamabad identified agriculture, mining and industry as priority sectors for AI driven productivity gains in Pakistan.

Pakistan approved a National AI Policy in 2025, although implementation has moved slowly. Officials in Islamabad said Indus AI Week marks an early step towards broader adoption of AI across Pakistan.

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Singtel opens largest AI ready data centre in Singapore

Singtel’s data centre arm Nxera has opened its largest data centre in Singapore at Tuas. The facility strengthens Singapore’s role as a regional hub for AI infrastructure.

The Tuas site in Singapore offers 58MW of AI-ready capacity and is described as the country’s highest- power-density data centre. More than 90 per cent of Singapore’s capacity was committed before the official launch.

Nxera said the Singapore facility is hyperconnected through direct access to international and domestic networks. Singapore gains lower latency and improved reliability from integration with a cable landing station.

Singtel said the Tuas development supports rising demand in Singapore for AI, cloud and high performance computing. Nxera plans further expansion in Asia while reinforcing Singapore’s position in digital infrastructure.

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Educators turn to AI despite platform fatigue

Educators in the US are increasingly using AI to address resource shortages, despite growing frustration with fragmented digital platforms. A new survey highlights rising dependence on AI tools across schools and universities in the US.

The study found many educators in the US juggle numerous digital systems that fail to integrate smoothly. Respondents said constant switching between platforms adds to workload pressures and burnout in the US education sector.

AI use in the US is focused on boosting productivity, with educators applying tools to research, writing and administrative tasks. Many also use AI to support student learning as budgets tighten in the US.

Concerns remain in the US around data security, ethics and system overload. Educators said better integration between AI and learning tools could ease strain and improve outcomes in the US classroom.

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New York weighs pause on data centre expansion

Lawmakers in New York have introduced a bill proposing a three year pause on permits for new data centres. Supporters say rapid expansion linked to AI infrastructure risks straining energy systems in New York.

Concerns in New York focus on rising electricity demand and higher household bills as tech companies scale AI operations. Critics across the US argue local communities bear the cost of supporting large scale computing facilities.

The New York proposal has drawn backing from environmental groups and politicians in the US who want time to set stricter rules. US senator Bernie Sanders has also called for a nationwide halt on new data centres.

Officials in New York say the pause would allow stronger policies on grid access and fair cost sharing. The debate reflects wider US tension between economic growth driven by AI and environmental limits.

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New AI breakthrough unlocks complex protein structures

AI is reshaping protein research, enabling scientists to decode complex molecular structures with greater speed and precision. Researchers at the National University of Singapore are using AI to accelerate biomedical discovery and disease research.

Protein function depends on three-dimensional structure, yet experimental mapping remains slow and resource-intensive. A team led by Zhang Yang developed D-I-TASSER, an AI tool that predicts 3D structures of complex multi-domain proteins.

The system combines AI with physics simulations, predicting protein segments before assembling a full structural model. Testing showed roughly 13 percent higher accuracy than existing leading methods, while enabling structural modelling across much of the human proteome.

Future development will expand the framework to RNA structures and protein-protein interactions, including antibody-antigen complexes, with the long-term goal of modelling dynamic protein folding processes inside living cells.

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Super Bowl 2026 ads embrace the AI power

AI dominated the 2026 Super Bowl advertising landscape as brands relied on advanced models instead of traditional high-budget productions.

Many spots showcased AI as both the creative engine behind the visuals and the featured product, signalling a shift toward technology-centred storytelling during the most expensive broadcast event of the year.

Svedka pursued a provocative strategy by presenting a largely AI-generated commercial starring its robot pair, a choice that reignited arguments over whether generative tools could displace human creatives.

Anthropic went in a different direction by using humour to mock OpenAI’s plan to introduce advertisements to ChatGPT, a jab that led to a pointed response from Sam Altman and fuelled an online dispute.

Meta, Amazon and Google used their airtime to promote their latest consumer offerings, with Meta focusing on AI-assisted glasses for extreme activities and Amazon unveiling Alexa+, framed through a satirical performance by Chris Hemsworth about fears of malfunctioning assistants.

Google leaned toward practical design applications instead of spectacle, demonstrating its Nano Banana Pro system transforming bare rooms into personalised images.

Other companies emphasised service automation, from Ring’s AI tool for locating missing pets to Ramp, Rippling and Wix, which showcased platforms designed to ease administrative work and simplify creative tasks.

Hims & Hers adopted a more social approach by highlighting the unequal nature of healthcare access and promoting its AI-driven MedMatch feature.

The variety of tones across the adverts underscored how brands increasingly depend on AI to stand out, either through spectacle or through commentary on the technology’s expanding cultural power.

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