Future of work

Microsoft adds AI assistant to Windows 11 settings

Microsoft is bringing more AI to Windows 11 with a new AI assistant built into the Settings app. This smart agent can adjust system settings like mouse precision, help users navigate the interface, and even troubleshoot problems—all by request.

With the user’s permission, it can also make changes automatically instead of relying on manual adjustments.

The AI assistant will first roll out to testers in the Windows Insider programme on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, followed by support for x86-based systems.

Although Microsoft has not confirmed a release date for the general public, this feature marks a major step in making Windows settings more intuitive and responsive.

Several other AI-powered updates are on the way, including smarter tools in File Explorer and the Snipping Tool, plus dynamic lighting in the Photos app.

Copilot will also gain a new ‘Vision’ feature, letting it see shared windows for better in-app assistance instead of being limited to text prompts alone.

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Amazon’s new robots could replace warehouse workers

Amazon’s latest innovation, the Vulcan robot, is set to revolutionise the company’s warehouse operations. These cutting-edge robots are designed with an advanced ‘sense of touch,’ enabling them to perform tasks such as picking and packing, which were previously exclusive to human workers.

It could significantly reduce the number of jobs required in Amazon’s fulfilment centres worldwide, potentially displacing lower-skilled workers, particularly those in temporary or younger roles.

Vulcan’s technology allows it to navigate complex tasks, including placing items into precise spots and handling a vast array of products with care, a challenge that was previously difficult for robots.

Amazon argues that the robots will improve workplace safety by reducing the physical strain on employees and minimising injuries, while also boosting operational efficiency.

However, the shift towards automation raises concerns about the future of employment within Amazon’s warehouses.

Though Amazon emphasises that robots like Vulcan will complement human workers, the growing use of automation, including drone deliveries and AI-powered machines, could diminish the need for human labour in certain roles.

A move like this, combined with the company’s broader tech investments, prompts significant questions about the future of work and the potential societal impacts of widespread automation.

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Google upgrades Gemini AI model with focus on developers

Google has launched a new version of its flagship AI model called Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview (I/O edition), ahead of its annual developer event.

The updated version promises major improvements in coding, app development, and video understanding, and replaces the existing Gemini 2.5 Pro model without changing the price.

Developers can access it through the Gemini API, Vertex AI, AI Studio, and the Gemini chatbot app for web and mobile.

Rather than sticking with older features, the I/O edition aims to reduce coding errors and improve how the model handles complex tasks like function calling and code transformation.

Google says the update directly responds to developer feedback by making the model more reliable and better at triggering functions accurately.

Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview (I/O edition) currently leads the WebDev Arena Leaderboard, a benchmark for creating functional and visually appealing web apps. It also scores highly in video analysis tasks, with a benchmark result of 84.8% on VideoMME, one of the best performances in the field so far.

Instead of letting competitors like OpenAI and xAI take the spotlight, Google is pushing to strengthen its position in the AI race. The timing of this release, just before the I/O conference, hints at more AI-related announcements to come as the tech giant seeks to keep pace in a rapidly evolving market.

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Lost items now easier to recover with AI

AI is supporting lost-and-found services across Japan, helping reunite thousands with misplaced possessions. Tokyo-based Find Inc has developed a platform now used by around 30 organisations at 2,300 sites, including train stations, airports and police departments.

The system analyses photos and descriptions of lost items and compares them with user-submitted information through apps like Line. Keio Corp and Yurikamome Inc report significant improvements in return rates since adopting the AI-powered tool.

Users can search for items in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean, with the AI suggesting possible matches even from vague descriptions. The platform has handled over 1.5 million lost items, returning nearly half a million to their owners.

Previously reliant on spreadsheets and manual searches, many operators now benefit from faster identification and fewer inquiries. Tokyo and Oita police departments, along with commercial hubs like Hakata Station, have embraced the technology.

As adoption spreads, Find Inc aims to simplify the process of recovering lost items for even more people.

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AI chatbots fall short in health advice study

As healthcare costs rise and waiting lists grow, many people are turning to AI chatbots like ChatGPT for medical advice. However, a new Oxford-led study suggests chatbots may not improve, and could even hinder, health decision-making.

Participants using AI models such as GPT-4o, Cohere’s Command R+ and Meta’s Llama 3 often missed key health conditions or underestimated their severity.

Researchers found users struggled to provide complete information to chatbots and sometimes received confusing, mixed-quality responses.

Participants performed no better than those using traditional methods like online searches or personal judgment. Experts caution that current chatbot evaluations fail to reflect the real-world complexity of human-AI interaction.

While tech giants like Apple, Amazon and Microsoft push AI-driven health tools, professionals remain wary of applying such technology to serious medical decisions. The American Medical Association advises against using chatbots for clinical decision-making.

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AI reshapes UK social care but raises concerns

AI tools such as pain-detecting apps, night-time sensors, and even training robots are increasingly shaping social care in the UK.

Care homes now use the Painchek app to scan residents’ faces for pain indicators, while sensors like AllyCares monitor unusual activity, reducing preventable hospital visits.

Meanwhile, Oxford researchers have created a robot that helps train carers by mimicking patients’ reactions to pain. Families often adjust to the technology after seeing improvements in their loved ones’ care, but transparency and human oversight remain essential.

Despite the promise of these innovations, experts urge caution. Dr Caroline Green from the University of Oxford warns that AI must remain a support, not a replacement, and raises concerns about bias, data privacy, and potential overdependence on technology.

With the UK ageing population and staffing shortages straining social care, technology offers valuable assistance.

Specialists stress that investment in skilled human carers is crucial and the government has endorsed the role of AI in care but has yet to establish clear national policies guiding its ethical use

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AI adoption soars in the UK but skills gap looms

AI adoption in the UK has grown rapidly, rising by 33% over the past year. According to a new report from AWS, 52% of UK businesses are now using AI technologies, up from 39% in the previous year.

Adoption has become so widespread that a business implements new AI tools or strategies every 60 seconds. The benefits are becoming more obvious too, with 92% of AI adopters reporting revenue increases, compared with 64% in 2024.

However, the report highlights a growing divide in AI readiness. While large enterprises and startups share similar adoption rates of 55% and 59% respectively, startups appear better prepared for technological shifts.

Twice as many startups (31%) have developed comprehensive AI strategies compared with larger companies (15%), suggesting agility and forward planning remain crucial.

Despite the progress, serious challenges remain. Skills shortages are slowing businesses down, with nearly 38% citing a lack of expertise as a major barrier, up from 29% last year.

Almost half report delays in hiring qualified talent, with recruitment taking an average of five and a half months. As AI becomes more integrated, it is expected that 47% of new jobs will require AI literacy in the next three years.

In response, AWS has launched a UK initiative to train 100,000 people in AI skills by 2030. The programme includes partnerships with universities such as Exeter and Manchester.

According to the UK Government’s own projections, improved AI adoption could unlock £45 billion per year in public sector savings and productivity. Still, AWS warns that unless skill gaps are addressed, the country risks developing a two-tier AI economy.

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IBM boosts US manufacturing with $150 billion pledge

IBM has announced a major $150 billion investment in the US over the next five years, with a significant portion earmarked for expanding production of quantum computers and mainframes.

The move follows similar commitments from tech giants like Nvidia and Apple, as industry leaders respond to the Trump administration’s push for increased domestic manufacturing.

Of the total sum, more than $30 billion will be dedicated to scaling up IBM’s US-based manufacturing of quantum systems and mainframes, vital for processing vast data and critical tasks.

IBM, which operates one of the world’s largest quantum computing fleets, stated the investment reflects both technological ambition and a strategic gesture towards current US trade policies.

While the quantum computing field has seen exciting advancements, including new chip generations from rivals like Google, opinions remain divided on when practical applications will emerge.

IBM’s latest investment signals long-term confidence in the technology, even as the company navigates recent challenges, including the cancellation of 15 government contracts during federal cost-cutting efforts.

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Microsoft retires Skype, urges switch to Teams

Microsoft has officially retired Skype as of 5 May 2025, closing a chapter in the history of digital communication. The change affects both free and paid users, although “Skype for Business” users will not be impacted.

Users are now encouraged to switch to the free version of Microsoft Teams. By signing in with their Skype credentials, they can automatically transfer their contacts and chat history.

Those who prefer not to continue with Teams have the option to export their Skype data.

Launched in 2003, Skype revolutionised online communication and, by 2008, was the largest provider of international voice calls, holding an 8% share of global call volume.

At its peak in 2011, Skype boasted 140 million monthly users worldwide.

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Google’s Gemini AI completes Pokémon Blue with a little help

Google’s cutting-edge AI model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, has made headlines by completing the 1996 classic video game Pokémon Blue. While Google didn’t achieve the feat directly, it was orchestrated by Joel Z, an independent software engineer who created a livestream called Gemini Plays Pokémon.

Despite being unaffiliated with the tech giant, Joel’s project has drawn enthusiastic support from Google executives, including CEO Sundar Pichai, who celebrated the victory on social media. The challenge of beating a game like Pokémon Blue has become an informal benchmark for testing the reasoning and adaptability of large language models.

Earlier this year, AI company Anthropic revealed its Claude model was making strides in a similar title, Pokémon Red, but has yet to complete it. While comparisons between the two AIs are inevitable, Joel Z clarified that such evaluations are flawed due to differences in tools, data access, and gameplay frameworks.

To play the game, Gemini relied on a complex system called an ‘agent harness,’ which feeds the model visual and contextual information from the game and translates its decisions into gameplay actions. Joel admits to making occasional interventions to improve Gemini’s reasoning but insists these did not include cheats or explicit hints. Instead, his guidance was limited to refining the model’s problem-solving capabilities.

The project remains a work in progress, and Joel continues to enhance the framework behind Gemini’s gameplay. While it may not be an official benchmark for AI performance, the achievement is a playful demonstration of how far AI systems have come in tackling creative and unexpected challenges.

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