Future of work

Microsoft podcast explores future of AI in medicine

AI is reshaping healthcare, according to experts featured in Microsoft’s new podcast series The AI Revolution in Medicine, Revisited.

Peter Lee, President of Microsoft Research, spoke with clinicians and researchers about how AI is helping doctors work more effectively and patients access better care. From note-taking during visits to accelerating drug discovery, the technology is already proving its value.

A doctor of UC San Diego Health in the US said AI helps physicians draft longer, more empathetic responses to patient messages, reducing mental strain. Meanwhile, Stanford’s Dr Roxana Daneshjou described how AI detected a dosage error in a medical summary, acting as a crucial safeguard.

Bill Gates highlighted how AI could boost healthcare in low-income regions by providing medical intelligence where doctors are scarce. Other guests suggested the technology may even blur traditional boundaries between medical specialties while accelerating drug development.

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AI reforms in Hong Kong expected to save millions in public services

Hong Kong will establish a new team to advance the use of AI across government departments, Chief Executive John Lee confirmed during his 2025 Policy Address.

The AI Efficacy Enhancement Team, led by Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk, will coordinate reforms to modernise outdated processes and promote efficiency.

Lee said his administration would focus on safe ‘AI+ development’, applying the technology in public services and encouraging adoption across different sectors instead of relying on traditional methods.

He added that Hong Kong had the potential to grow into a global hub for AI and would treat the field as a core industry for the city’s economic future.

Examples of AI adoption are already visible.

The government’s 1823 enquiry hotline uses voice recognition to cut response times by 30 per cent, while the Census and Statistics Department applies AI models to trade data and company reports, reducing manual checks by 40 per cent and improving accuracy.

Authorities expect upcoming censuses in 2026 and 2031 to save about $680 million through AI and data science technologies instead of conventional manpower-heavy methods.

The announcement comes shortly after China unveiled its national AI policy blueprint, which seeks widespread integration of the technology in research, governance and industry, with a target of 90 per cent prevalence by 2030.

Hong Kong’s approach is being positioned as part of a wider push for technological leadership in the region.

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Microsoft seizes 338 sites tied to phishing service

Microsoft has disrupted RaccoonO365, a fast-growing phishing service used by cybercriminals to steal Microsoft 365 login details.

Using a court order from the Southern District of New York, in the US, its Digital Crimes Unit seized 338 websites linked to the operation. The takedown cut off infrastructure that enabled criminals to mimic Microsoft branding and trick victims into sharing their credentials.

Since mid-2024, RaccoonO365 has been used in at least 94 countries and has stolen more than 5,000 credentials. The kits were marketed on Telegram to hundreds of paying subscribers, including campaigns that targeted healthcare providers in the US.

Microsoft identified the group’s alleged leader as Joshua Ogundipe, based in Nigeria, who is accused of creating and promoting the service. The company has referred the case to international law enforcement while continuing efforts to dismantle any rebuilt networks.

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WEF urges trade policy shift to protect workers in digital economy

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has published an article on using trade policy to build a fairer digital economy. Digital services now make up over half of global exports, with AI investment projected at $252 billion in 2024. Countries from Kenya to the UAE are positioning as digital hubs, but job quality still lags.

Millions of platform workers face volatile pay, lack of contracts, and no access to social protections. In Kenya alone, 1.9 million people rely on digital work yet face algorithm-driven pay systems and sudden account deactivations. India and the Philippines show similar patterns.

AI threatens to automate lower-skilled tasks such as data annotation and moderation, deepening insecurity in sectors where many developing countries have found a competitive edge. Ethical standards exist but have little impact without enforcement or supportive regulation.

Countries are experimenting with reforms: Singapore now mandates injury compensation and retirement savings for platform workers, while the Rider Law in Spain reclassifies food couriers as employees. Yet overly strict regulation risks eroding the flexibility that attracts youth and caregivers to gig work.

Trade agreements, such as the AfCFTA and the Kenya–EU pact, could embed labour protections in digital markets. Coordinated policies and tripartite dialogue are essential to ensure the digital economy delivers growth, fairness, and dignity for workers.

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New YouTube AI features make Shorts faster and smarter

YouTube has unveiled a new suite of AI tools designed to enhance the creation of Shorts, with its headline innovation being Veo 3 Fast, a streamlined version of Google DeepMind’s video model.

A system that can generate 480p clips with sound almost instantly, marking the first time audio has been added to Veo-generated Shorts. It is already being rolled out in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with other regions to follow instead of a limited release.

The platform also introduced several advanced editing features, such as motion transfer from video to still images, text-based styling, object insertion and Speech to Song Remixing, which converts spoken dialogue into music through DeepMind’s Lyria 2 model.

Testing will begin in the US before global expansion.

Another innovation, Edit with AI, automatically assembles raw footage into a rough cut complete with transitions, music and interactive voiceovers. YouTube confirmed the tool is in trials and will launch in select markets within weeks instead of years.

All AI-generated Shorts will display labels and watermarks to maintain transparency, as YouTube pushes to expand creator adoption and boost Shorts’ growth as a rival to TikTok and Instagram Reels.

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OpenAI study shows ChatGPT adoption widening

OpenAI has released the largest study to date on how people use ChatGPT, based on 1.5 million anonymised conversations.

The research shows adoption is widening across demographics, with women now making up more than half of identified users. Growth has been particularly strong in low- and middle-income countries, where adoption rates have risen over four times faster than in wealthier nations.

Most ChatGPT conversations focus on practical help, with three-quarters of usage related to tasks such as writing, seeking information, or planning. Around half of interactions are advisory in nature, while a smaller share is devoted to coding or personal expression.

The study found 30% of consumer usage is work-related, with the rest tied to personal activities. Researchers argue the AI tool boosts productivity and supports decision-making, creating value not always captured by economic measures like GDP.

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YouTube launches new AI tools to simplify video creation

YouTube has introduced new AI-powered tools to make video creation more playful and effortless. The features include Veo 3 Fast, a video generation model from Google DeepMind, now integrated into YouTube Shorts.

Veo 3 Fast allows creators to generate videos with sound directly from their phones at 480p, all for free.

New Shorts capabilities let users add motion to photos, apply artistic styles, and insert objects into scenes with simple text prompts. These tools expand creative options and simplify content creation, with YouTube set to test them in the coming months.

The platform also launched Edit with AI, automatically transforming raw footage into a first draft with music, transitions, and voiceovers in English or Hindi. The feature helps creators quickly develop their videos, leaving more time for personalisation and refinement.

In addition, YouTube introduced Speech to Song, enabling users to remix dialogue from eligible videos into catchy soundtracks using Lyria 2, Google DeepMind’s AI music model. All AI-generated content includes SynthID watermarks and content labels to ensure transparency and proper attribution.

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Hollywood studios take legal action against MiniMax for AI copyright infringement

Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal have filed a lawsuit in California against Chinese AI company MiniMax, accusing it of large-scale copyright infringement.

The studios allege that MiniMax’s Hailuo AI service generates unauthorised images and videos featuring well-known characters such as Darth Vader, marketing itself as a ‘Hollywood studio in your pocket’ instead of respecting copyright laws.

According to the complaint, MiniMax, reportedly worth $4 billion, ignored cease-and-desist requests and continues to profit from copyrighted works. The studios argue that the company could easily implement safeguards, pointing to existing controls that already block violent or explicit content.

MiniMax’s approach, as they claim, represents a serious threat to both creators and the broader film industry, which contributes hundreds of billions of dollars to the US economy.

Plaintiffs, including Disney’s Marvel and Lucasfilm units, Universal’s DreamWorks Animation and Warner Bros.’ DC Comics, are seeking statutory damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work or unspecified compensation.

They are also asking for an injunction to prevent MiniMax from continuing its alleged violations instead of simply paying damages.

The Motion Picture Association has backed the lawsuit, with its chairman Charles Rivkin warning that unchecked copyright infringement could undermine millions of jobs and the cultural value created by the American film industry.

MiniMax, based in Shanghai, has not responded publicly to the claims but has previously described itself as a global AI foundation model company with over 157 million users worldwide.

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Prolonged JLR shutdown threatens UK export targets

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed that its production halt will continue until at least Wednesday, 24 September, as it works to recover from a major cyberattack that disrupted its IT systems and paralysed production at the end of August.

JLR stated that the extension was necessary because forensic investigations were ongoing and the controlled restart of operations was taking longer than anticipated. The company stressed that it was prioritising a safe and stable restart and pledged to keep staff, suppliers, and partners regularly updated.

Reports suggest recovery could take weeks, impacting production and sales channels for an extended period. Approximately 33,000 employees remain at home as factory and sales processes are not fully operational, resulting in estimated losses of £1 billion in revenue and £70 million in profits.

The shutdown also poses risks to the wider UK economy, as JLR represents roughly four percent of British exports. The incident has renewed calls for the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which aims to strengthen defenses against digital threats to critical industries.

No official attribution has been made, but a group calling itself Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters has claimed responsibility. The group claims to have deployed ransomware and published screenshots of JLR’s internal SAP system, linking itself to extortion groups, including Scattered Spider, Lapsus$, and ShinyHunters.

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Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund INA targets data centres and AI in healthcare

The Indonesia Investment Authority (INA), the country’s sovereign wealth fund, is sharpening its focus on digital infrastructure, healthcare and renewable energy as it seeks to attract foreign partners and strengthen national development.

The fund, created in 2021 with $5 billion in state capital, now manages assets worth around $10 billion and is expanding its scope beyond equity into hybrid capital and private credit.

Chief investment officer Christopher Ganis said data centres and supporting infrastructure, such as sub-sea cables, were key priorities as the government emphasises data independence and resilience.

INA has already teamed up with Singapore-based Granite Asia to invest over $1.2 billion in Indonesia’s technology and AI ecosystem, including a new data centre campus in Batam. Ganis added that AI would be applied first in healthcare instead of rushing into broader adoption.

Renewables also remain central to INA’s strategy, with its partnership alongside Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Clean Energy in Pertamina Geothermal Energy cited as a strong performer.

Ganis said Asia’s reliance on bank financing highlights the need for INA’s support in cross-border growth, since domestic banks cannot always facilitate overseas expansion.

Despite growing global ambitions, INA will prioritise projects directly linked to Indonesia. Ganis stressed that it must deliver benefits at home instead of directing capital into ventures without a clear link to the country’s future.

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