Future of work

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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AI will kill middle-ground media, but raw content will thrive

Advertising is heading for a split future. By 2030, brands will run hyper-personalised AI campaigns or embrace raw human storytelling. Everything in between will vanish.

AI-driven advertising will go far beyond text-to-image gimmicks. These adaptive systems will combine social trends, search habits, and first-party data to create millions of real-time ad variations.

The opposite approach will lean into imperfection, featuring unpolished TikToks, founder-shot iPhone videos, and authentic and alive content. Audiences reward authenticity over carefully scripted, generic campaigns.

Mid-tier, polished, forgettable, creative work will be the first to fade away. AI can replicate it instantly, and audiences will scroll past it without noticing.

Marketers must now pick a side: feed AI with data and scale personalisation, or double down on community-driven, imperfect storytelling. The middle won’t survive.

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3D figurine craze takes off with Google Gemini update

Google’s Gemini latest update has sparked a social media craze by allowing users to transform 2D photos into lifelike 3D figurines. The feature, part of Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, has quickly become the standout trend from the update.

Instead of serving as a photo-editing tool, Gemini now helps users turn selfies, portraits, and pet photos into stylized statuettes. The images resemble collectable vinyl or resin figures, with smooth finishes and polished detailing.

The digital figurine trend blends personalisation with creativity, allowing users to reimagine themselves or loved ones as miniature display pieces. The playful results have been widely shared across platforms, driving renewed engagement with Google’s AI suite.

The figurine generator also complements Gemini’s other creative functions, such as image combination and style transformation, which allow users to experiment with entirely new aesthetics. Together, these tools extend Gemini’s appeal beyond simple photo correction.

While other platforms have offered 3D effects, Gemini’s version produces highly polished results in seconds, democratising what was once a niche 3D modelling skill. For many, it is the most accessible way to turn memories into digital art.

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Study reveals why humans adapt better than AI

A new interdisciplinary study from Bielefeld University and other leading institutions explores why humans excel at adapting to new situations while AI systems often struggle. Researchers found humans generalise through abstraction and concepts, while AI relies on statistical or rule-based methods.

The study proposes a framework to align human and AI reasoning, defining generalisation, how it works, and how it can be assessed. Experts say differences in generalisation limit AI flexibility and stress the need for human-centred design in medicine, transport, and decision-making.

Researchers collaborated across more than 20 institutions, including Bielefeld, Bamberg, Amsterdam, and Oxford, under the SAIL project. The initiative aims to develop AI systems that are sustainable, transparent, and better able to support human values and decision-making.

Interdisciplinary insights may guide the responsible use of AI in human-AI teams, ensuring machines complement rather than disrupt human judgement.

The findings underline the importance of bridging cognitive science and AI research to foster more adaptable, trustworthy, and human-aligned AI systems capable of tackling complex, real-world challenges.

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UN to train governments in blockchain and AI

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) plans to launch a ‘Government Blockchain Academy’ next year to educate public sector officials on blockchain, AI, and other emerging technologies.

The initiative aims to help governments leverage tech for economic growth and sustainable development.

The academy will partner with the Exponential Science Foundation, a non-profit promoting blockchain and AI. Training will cover financial services, digital IDs, public procurement, smart contracts, and climate finance to help governments boost transparency, inclusion, and resilience.

UNDP officials highlighted that developing countries, including India, Pakistan, and Vietnam, are already among the leading adopters of crypto technology.

The academy will provide in-person and online courses, workshops, and forums to guide high-impact blockchain initiatives aligned with national priorities.

The programme follows last year’s UNDP blockchain academy, created in partnership with the Algorand Foundation, which trained over 22,000 staff members to support sustainable growth projects in participating countries.

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