YouTube is testing an AI-driven feature allowing select creators to remix songs by describing desired stylistic changes. This builds on its Dream Track toolset, which debuted last year and lets users generate AI-based tracks using artist vocals. The new feature, ‘Restyle a track,’ enables creators to transform a song’s genre or mood, producing 30-second snippets for Shorts while preserving the original’s essence.
The tool uses Google DeepMind’s Lyria model and ensures proper crediting of the original music. YouTube has partnered with Universal Music Group to compensate artists and rights holders, addressing potential concerns from the music industry. Creators participating in the trial can experiment with a limited selection of tracks under this system.
This development follows a growing trend of platforms enabling AI-generated music customisation. YouTube’s approach highlights its commitment to both creative innovation and maintaining industry standards. Competitors like Hook, an app for remixing music, are also exploring similar functionalities for short-form video content.
A report by the Alan Turing Institute warns that AI has fuelled harmful narratives and spread disinformation during a major year for elections. Conducted by the Institute’s Centre for Emerging Technology and Security (CETaS), the study explores how generative AI tools, including deepfake technology and bot farms, have been used to amplify conspiracy theories and sway public opinion. While no concrete evidence links AI directly to changes in election outcomes, the study points to growing concerns over AI’s influence on voter trust.
Researchers observed AI-driven bot farms that mimicked genuine voters and used fake celebrity endorsements to spread conspiracies during key elections. These tactics, they argue, have eroded trust in democratic institutions and heightened public fear of AI’s potential misuse. Lead author Sam Stockwell noted that while evidence remains limited on AI changing electoral results, the urgent need for transparency and better access to social media data is clear.
The Institute has outlined steps to counteract AI’s potential threats to democracy, suggesting stricter deterrents against disinformation, enhanced detection of deepfake content, improved media guidance, and stronger societal defences against misinformation. These recommendations aim to create a safer information environment as AI technology continues to advance.
In response to AI’s growing presence, major AI companies, including those behind ChatGPT and Meta AI, have tightened security to prevent misuse. However, some startups, like Haiper, still lag behind, with fewer safeguards in place, leading to concerns over potentially harmful AI content reaching the public.
In Poznan, Poland, a new chapel is combining tradition with cutting-edge technology. Created by priest Radek Rakowski, the modern chapel features an AI-powered system that answers visitors’ questions about Catholicism. Housed in a residential building, the chapel includes a coffee corner and app-based amenities that control lighting and drink orders.
The AI assistant, accessible via a lectern, offers objective and comprehensive responses drawn from the Bible, catechism, and Church documents. Rakowski emphasises that the system helps address sensitive questions without emotional bias or human error. He views it as a tool to make faith discussions more open and accurate.
With its neon-lit, welcoming design and innovative approach, the Polish chapel symbolises a shift toward integrating technology with spirituality. Visitors can now explore their faith in an environment that blends community warmth with futuristic convenience.
As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, Americans have expressed mixed feelings about its role in job hiring. A survey conducted by Talker Research between October 21-24 revealed that 43% of respondents felt uneasy with AI conducting job interviews, while 32% were comfortable. Generational differences were also evident, with younger generations, particularly Gen Z, more accepting of AI-led interviews than older generations like Baby Boomers.
Despite the concerns, AI’s role in recruitment continues to grow. Philip Gjørup, co-founder of Nord Comms, believes AI could revolutionise the hiring process by swiftly identifying key attributes in candidates. Similarly, Lars Nyman from CUDO Compute points out that AI is already used to assess resumes and assess initial candidate fit, making AI-led interviews a logical next step.
However, AI faces limitations in capturing the personal touch needed in job interviews. While experts agree that AI can streamline recruitment, they also acknowledge that nuanced interpersonal skills, which are vital in interviews, remain beyond the capabilities of current AI technology.
The rising use of AI in hiring has raised concerns about the dehumanising effects of algorithms making important career decisions. Many worry about a lack of empathy in the process, with some likening it to pitching one’s career story to a ‘vending machine.’ As AI technology develops, it may take more time for people to adapt to its growing presence in the hiring process.
Israeli startup Panjaya.ai has raised $9.5 million in funding to develop BodyTalk, an AI-powered platform that translates content while synchronising lip movements and body gestures. The platform offers natural, accurate translations in any language, creating a seamless viewing experience across cultures. The funding was provided by Viola Ventures, R-Squared Ventures, GroundUp Ventures, and a number of notable angel investors.
Co-founded by Hilik Shani and Ariel Shalom, Panjaya aims to revolutionise AI translations. In 2023, the company was joined by Guy Piekarz, former Match co-founder and Apple executive, who now serves as CEO. By blending neural voice synthesis, computer vision, and Natural Language Processing (NLP), the platform enables organisations to provide culturally authentic experiences to diverse audiences.
The pilot programme of BodyTalk has already proven successful, with TED integrating the platform into its global content strategy. TED has used BodyTalk to translate Talks into multiple languages, including Portuguese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The AI ensures that translated content feels authentic to the original message, enhancing engagement for international audiences.
Panjaya’s platform is designed to offer something rare in digital communication: an authentic, culturally nuanced translation experience. CEO Guy Piekarz highlighted the significance of synchronisation in delivering content that truly resonates with global audiences. BodyTalk aims to set a new standard for multilingual communication, making it more impactful and inclusive.
China Mobile and ZTE have launched an AI-driven Green Telco Cloud solution designed to optimise energy consumption in telecom networks while maintaining business continuity and a high-quality user experience. The solution monitors and analyses key parameters such as server load and network traffic in real-time, dynamically adjusting computing resources like CPU frequency and sleep modes by utilising advanced deep neural networks.
The energy-saving approach has been successfully validated on both X86 and ARM cloud platforms, with notable results in China Mobile’s Hunan and Anhui branches, demonstrating up to a 25% reduction in energy consumption. As a result, the solution lowers operational costs through improved resource utilisation and reduced equipment maintenance and contributes to global sustainability efforts by reducing carbon emissions. Therefore, that technology represents a significant step toward transforming the telecom industry into a more energy-efficient, green sector as 4G and 5G networks expand.
Furthermore, China Mobile and ZTE are committed to further optimising and expanding their AI-driven Green Telco Cloud solution to promote long-term sustainability in the telecom sector. Through their collaboration, both companies emphasise the importance of technological innovation in achieving environmental goals while simultaneously enhancing telecom operators’ corporate image and competitiveness. Additionally, they plan to drive the widespread adoption of energy-saving technologies, ensuring that the telecom industry contributes to a greener, low-carbon future.
AI-powered search engine Perplexity has started testing advertisements in the US, marking its first foray into ad-based monetisation. These ads appear as ‘sponsored follow-up questions,’ offering suggestions like ‘How can I use LinkedIn to enhance my job search?’ They are labelled and displayed alongside AI-generated answers without altering the platform’s objectivity or user privacy.
The company views advertising as essential for sustainable revenue growth, complementing its premium subscription service. Perplexity is partnering with brands like Indeed and Whole Foods, emphasising its ability to connect advertisers with high-income, educated audiences. However, critics have raised concerns about the platform’s reach and allegations of plagiarism, including lawsuits from major publishers like Dow Jones and The New York Times.
With pressure to diversify income streams, Perplexity is exploring ad formats as it approaches a potential $9B valuation. It remains committed to refining its tools and addressing industry concerns while adapting its platform for broader monetisation.
Google is testing an AI-driven feature for YouTube Shorts, allowing creators to alter licensed audio tracks to fit different styles or genres. Part of YouTube’s Dream Track experiment, the feature lets select creators customise songs by simply describing their desired transformation, such as changing the music genre. YouTube’s AI then generates a 30-second soundtrack for the creator’s short video, maintaining the original vocals and lyrics.
The experimental tool has clear attribution rules, ensuring viewers can see that the song has been restyled with AI. Videos featuring these AI-enhanced tracks will display the original song information and note that AI was used to alter the sound. This setup helps protect the rights of original music creators while giving video makers new artistic possibilities.
The Dream Track experiment has been in testing since last year, initially giving creators access to AI-generated artist voices with approved songs. This latest feature now expands to allow broader soundtrack customisation within Shorts, aiming to boost creator flexibility and viewer engagement.
Separately, YouTube is testing a swipe-up feature for its Android app, making it easier to navigate between videos. Available to a limited number of users, the swipe-up gesture now brings a navigation method similar to Instagram Reels, potentially signalling an interface shift across YouTube’s mobile platform.
India’s technology workforce is expected to expand significantly by 2028, creating an estimated 2.73 million new tech jobs, according to a ServiceNow report. As AI transforms industries nationwide, the overall workforce in India is projected to increase by 33.89 million, rising from 423.73 million in 2023 to 457.62 million. This growth is anticipated to bring a wave of new opportunities for professionals, particularly in tech-focused roles.
The retail sector is expected to drive the bulk of new employment, requiring nearly seven million additional workers as it adapts to tech innovations. Job opportunities in retail will increasingly demand skills in software development and data engineering, aligning with a broader shift towards a tech-enabled workforce. Other sectors set for growth include manufacturing, which anticipates 1.5 million new roles, as well as education and healthcare, each expected to see hundreds of thousands of new job openings.
ServiceNow’s research underscores the need for upskilling initiatives to support this tech-driven transition. Companies and policymakers are urged to work together in facilitating training efforts, ensuring a seamless shift for professionals moving into technical roles. Strategic investments in tech skills will also provide pathways for individuals to pursue advanced digital careers across various industries.
Demand for tech roles such as Software Application Developers, Systems Software Developers, and Data Engineers is expected to soar, with tens of thousands of new positions in these fields. Other high-demand roles include Web Developers, Data Analysts, and Software Testers, reflecting a growing need for skilled professionals to support expanding digital economy in India.
In a significant rise, over 5 million Koreans used the ChatGPT app in October, a sevenfold jump from the previous year, according to data from WiseappㆍRetailㆍGoods. This surge marks a milestone, with around 10 percent of smartphone users in Korea, totalling 51.2 million, now engaging with ChatGPT regularly.
Reports reveal that Korean users are also spending more time on the app, averaging 51.6 minutes each month—an increase of 20 minutes compared to last year. Frequency of use has similarly grown, with users logging into ChatGPT around 5.7 days a month, up from 3.2 days last year.
The increase in Korea is part of a larger global trend, with ChatGPT visits worldwide reaching 3.1 billion in September, a dramatic 112 percent increase year-on-year. This global growth underscores the rising appeal and practicality of AI applications like ChatGPT.
Analysts attribute this trend to ChatGPT’s expanding capabilities, making it a versatile tool for both personal and professional use. As more people discover its potential, ChatGPT’s popularity is expected to continue climbing globally and within Korea.
