Future of work

Workplace study highlights Gemini’s impact on creativity

Google’s new research on the impact of Gemini AI in Workspace reveals that the technology is reshaping how teams collaborate, with surveyed workers reporting weekly time savings and increasing confidence in AI-supported tasks.

The findings, based on input from more than 1,200 leaders and employees across six countries, suggest generative AI is becoming integral to routine workflows.

Many users report that Gemini helps them accomplish more in less time, generate ideas faster, and redirect their attention from repetitive tasks to higher-value work.

The report highlights wider organisational benefits. Leaders see AI as a driver of innovation, but a gap remains between executive ambitions and employee readiness. Google says structured training and phased rollouts are key to building trust and improving adoption accuracy.

New and updated Workspace features aim to address these needs. Recent Gemini releases offer improved task automation, enhanced email drafting, and advanced storytelling tools, while no-code agent builders support more complex workflow design without specialist skills.

The research points to a broader transformation in digital productivity. Companies using Gemini report fewer hours spent on administrative work, higher engagement, and stronger collaboration as AI becomes a functional layer that supports rather than replaces human judgement.

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OpenAI launches Agentic AI Foundation with industry partners

The US AI company, OpenAI, has co-founded the Agentic AI Foundation (AAIF) under the Linux Foundation alongside Anthropic, Block, Google, Microsoft, AWS, Bloomberg, and Cloudflare.

A foundation that aims to provide neutral stewardship for open, interoperable agentic AI infrastructure as systems move from experimental prototypes into real-world applications.

The initiative includes the donation of OpenAI’s AGENTS.md, a lightweight Markdown file designed to provide agents with project-specific instructions and context.

Since its release in August 2025, AGENTS.md has been adopted by more than 60,000 open-source projects, ensuring consistent behaviour across diverse repositories and frameworks. Contributions from Anthropic and Block will include the Model Context Protocol and the goose project, respectively.

By establishing AAIF, the co-founders intend to prevent ecosystem fragmentation and foster safe, portable, and interoperable agentic AI systems.

The foundation provides a shared platform for development, governance, and extension of open standards, with oversight by the Linux Foundation to guarantee neutral, long-term stewardship.

OpenAI emphasises that the foundation will support developers, enterprises, and the wider open-source community, inviting contributors to help shape agentic AI standards.

The AAIF reflects a collaborative effort to advance agentic AI transparently and in the public interest while promoting innovation across tools and platforms.

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Salesforce pushes unified data model for safer AI agents

Salesforce and Informatica are promoting a shared data framework designed to provide AI agents with a deeper understanding of business. Salesforce states that many projects fail due to context gaps, which leave agents unable to interpret enterprise data accurately.

Informatica adds master data management and a broad catalogue that defines core business entities across systems. Data lineage tools track how information moves through an organisation, helping agents judge reliability and freshness.

Data 360 merges these metadata layers and signals into a unified context interface without copying enterprise datasets. Salesforce claims that the approach provides Agentforce with a more comprehensive view of customers, processes, and policies, thereby supporting safer automation.

Wyndham and Yamaha representatives, quoted by Salesforce, say the combined stack helps reduce data inconsistency and accelerate decision-making. Both organisations report improved access to governed and harmonised records that support larger AI strategies.

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Google faces scrutiny over AI use of online content

The European Commission has opened an antitrust probe into Google over concerns it used publisher and YouTube content to develop its AI services on unfair terms.

Regulators are assessing whether Google used its dominant position to gain unfair access to content powering features like AI Overviews and AI Mode. They are examining whether publishers were disadvantaged by being unable to refuse use of their content without losing visibility on Google Search.

The probe also covers concerns that YouTube creators may have been required to allow the use of their videos for AI training without compensation, while rival AI developers remain barred from using YouTube content.

The investigation will determine whether these practices breached EU rules on abuse of dominance under Article 102 TFEU. Authorities intend to prioritise the case, though no deadline applies.

Google and national competition authorities have been formally notified as the inquiry proceeds.

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MIT introduces rapid object creation using AI

MIT researchers have created a speech-driven system that uses AI and robotics to build physical objects in minutes. Users provide a spoken request, and a robotic arm constructs items such as stools, shelves or decorative pieces from modular components.

The workflow turns spoken input into a digital mesh, divides it into parts and adjusts the design for real-world fabrication. An automated sequence directs the robot to assemble the object, enabling quick production without modelling or robotics expertise.

The modular approach reduces waste by allowing components to be disassembled and reused. The team also plans enhancements to improve structural strength and extend the system to larger-scale applications.

Researchers are also working on combining speech with gesture control to offer more intuitive interaction between humans, AI and robots.

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Deutsche Telekom partners with OpenAI to expand advanced AI services across Europe

OpenAI has formed a new partnership with Deutsche Telekom to deliver advanced AI capabilities to millions of people across Europe. The collaboration brings together Deutsche Telekom’s customer base and OpenAI’s research to expand the availability of practical AI tools.

The companies aim to introduce simple, multilingual and privacy-focused AI services starting in 2026, helping users communicate, learn and accomplish tasks more efficiently. Widespread familiarity with platforms such as ChatGPT is expected to support rapid uptake of these new offerings.

Deutsche Telekom will introduce ChatGPT Enterprise internally, giving staff secure access to tools that improve customer support and streamline workflows. The move aligns with the firm’s goal of modernising operations through intelligent automation.

Further integration of AI into network management and employee copilots will support the transition towards more autonomous, self-optimising systems. The partnership is expected to strengthen the availability and reliability of AI services throughout Europe.

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EIB survey shows EU firms lead in investment, innovation and green transition

European firms continue to invest actively despite a volatile global environment, demonstrating resilience, innovation, and commitment to sustainability, according to the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group’s 2025 Investment Survey.

Across the EU, companies are expanding capacity, adopting advanced digital technologies, and pursuing green investment to strengthen competitiveness.

Spanish firms, for example, are optimistic about their sector, prioritising capacity growth, using generative AI, and investing in energy efficiency and climate risk insurance.

Digital transformation is accelerating across the continent. Austrian and Finnish firms stand out for their extensive adoption of generative AI and multiple advanced digital tools, while Belgian companies excel in integrating digital technologies alongside green initiatives.

Czech firms devote a larger share of investment to capacity expansion and innovation, with high engagement in international trade and strategic use of digital solutions. These trends are highlighted in country-level EIB reports and reflect broader European patterns.

The green transition remains central to corporate strategies. Many firms actively reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and view sustainability as a business opportunity rather than a regulatory burden.

In Belgium, investments in energy efficiency and waste reduction are among the highest in the EU, while nearly all Finnish companies report taking measures to reduce greenhouse gases.

Across Europe, firms increasingly combine environmental action with innovation to maintain competitiveness and resilience.

Challenges persist, including skills shortages, uncertainty, high energy costs, and regulatory complexity. Despite these obstacles, European businesses continue to innovate, expand, and embrace international trade.

EIB surveys show that firms are leveraging technology and green investments not only to navigate economic uncertainty but also to position themselves for long-term growth and strategic advantage in a changing global landscape.

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Microsoft commits $17.5 billion to AI in India

The US tech giant, Microsoft, has announced its largest investment in Asia, committing US$17.5 billion to India over four years to expand cloud and AI infrastructure, workforce skilling, and operations nationwide.

An announcement that follows the US$3 billion investment earlier in 2025 and aims to support India’s ambition to become a global AI leader.

The investment focuses on three pillars: hyperscale infrastructure, sovereign-ready solutions, and workforce development. A new hyperscale data centre in Hyderabad, set to go live by mid-2026, will become Microsoft’s largest in India.

Expansion of existing data centres in Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune will improve resilience and low-latency performance for enterprises, startups, and public sector organisations.

Microsoft will integrate AI into national platforms, including e-Shram and the National Career Service, benefiting over 310 million informal workers. AI-enabled features include multilingual access, predictive analytics, automated résumé creation, and personalised pathways toward formal employment.

Skilling initiatives will be doubled to reach 20 million Indians by 2030, building an AI-ready workforce that can shape the country’s digital future.

Sovereign Public and Private Cloud solutions will provide secure, compliant environments for Indian organisations, supporting both connected and disconnected operations.

Microsoft 365 Copilot will process data entirely within India by the end of 2025, enhancing governance, compliance, and performance across regulated sectors. These initiatives aim to position India as a global AI hub powered by scale, skilling, and digital sovereignty.

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New AI platform accelerates cancer research

A new AI tool developed by Microsoft Research enables scientists to study the environment surrounding tumours on a far wider scale than previously possible.

The platform, called GigaTIME, uses multimodal modelling to analyse routine pathology slides and generate detailed digital maps showing how immune cells interact with cancerous tissue.

Traditional approaches require costly laboratory tests and days of work to produce similar maps, whereas GigaTIME performs the analysis in seconds. The system simulates dozens of protein interactions simultaneously, revealing patterns that were previously difficult or impossible to detect.

By examining tens of thousands of scenarios at once, researchers can better understand tumour behaviour and identify which treatments might offer the greatest benefit. The technology may also clarify why some patients resist therapy and aid the development of new treatment strategies.

GigaTIME is available as an open-source research tool and draws on data from more than 14,000 patients across dozens of hospitals and clinics. The project, developed with Providence and the University of Washington, aims to accelerate cancer research and cut costs.

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National payments system anchors Ethiopia’s digital shift

Ethiopia has launched its National Digital Payment Strategy for 2026 to 2030 alongside a new instant payments platform, marking a significant milestone in the country’s broader push towards digital transformation.

The five-year strategy sets out plans to expand payment interoperability, strengthen public trust, and encourage innovation across the financial sector, with a focus on widening adoption and reducing barriers for underserved and rural communities.

At the centre of the initiative is a national instant payments system designed to support rapid, secure transactions, including person-to-person transfers, QR payments, bulk disbursements, and selected low-value cross-border transactions.

Government officials described the shift as central to building a more inclusive, cash-lite economy, highlighting progress in digital financial access and sustained investment in core digital and payments infrastructure.

The rollout builds on the earlier Digital Ethiopia 2025 agenda and feeds into the longer-term Digital Ethiopia 2030 vision, as authorities position the country to meet rising demand for secure digital financial services across Africa.

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