People put a value on human connection, even when AI communicates in the same way

People put a value on human connection, even when AI communicates in the same way

by • AI, News, Wellbeing

Human-attributed responses are perceived as more supportive, emotionally resonant, and caring than identically AI-generated responsesHuman-attributed responses are perceived as more supportive, emotionally resonant, and caring than identically AI-generated responses, according to a new study by Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers. Published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, the study involved over 6,000 participants in nine different experiments in which chatbot responses were crafted by large language models (LLMs). The research reveals that human-attributed responses are perceived as more supportive, more emotionally resonant, and more caring than identical AI-generated responses. (more…)

Small changes to AI LLMs could cut energy use by 90 percent, claims UNESCO report

Small changes to AI LLMs could cut energy use by 90 percent, claims UNESCO report

by • AI, Environment, News

A new report from UNESCO and University College London claims that relatively minor changes in the way AI large language models (LLMs) are built and used can reduce their energy consumption by up to 90 percent without compromising performanceA new report from UNESCO and University College London claims that relatively minor changes in the way large language models (LLMs) are built and used can reduce their energy consumption by up to 90 percent without compromising performance. The report highlights the growing energy demands of generative AI systems and calls for a shift in approach to make them more sustainable. According to UNESCO, the annual energy footprint of generative AI is already equivalent to that of a low-income country, and continues to rise. (more…)

AI tools are widening the workplace divide between management and employees, report warns

AI tools are widening the workplace divide between management and employees, report warns

by • AI, News

New research suggests there is a widening gulf in the use of AI tools between senior leaders and junior staff, raising concerns that productivity gains from the technology are being unevenly sharedNew research suggests there is a widening gulf in the use of AI tools between senior leaders and junior staff, raising concerns that productivity gains from the technology are being unevenly shared. According to the Work that Works report from employment platform Employment Hero, nearly three-quarters of senior managers in the UK use AI tools each month. Among entry-level staff, that figure falls to just 32 percent. (more…)

Workplace AI doesn’t appear to be having a negative effect on wellbeing for now, research suggests

Workplace AI doesn’t appear to be having a negative effect on wellbeing for now, research suggests

by • AI, News, Wellbeing

A new study published in the journal Nature: Scientific Reports offers a cautiously optimistic view of how artificial intelligence is affecting workers’ wellbeingA new study published in the journal Nature: Scientific Reports offers a cautiously optimistic view of how artificial intelligence is affecting workers’ wellbeing. Contrary to common fears, the research finds no clear evidence that AI exposure is harming workers’ mental health or job satisfaction. In some cases, it may even be contributing to small improvements in physical health, particularly among workers without a college degree. (more…)

UK architects embrace AI more and more, although concerns about creativity remain

UK architects embrace AI more and more, although concerns about creativity remain

by • AI, Architecture, News

Use of artificial intelligence (AI) among UK architects has risen sharply over the past year, according to a new report published by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)Use of artificial intelligence (AI) among UK architects has risen sharply over the past year, according to a new report published by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The 2025 RIBA AI Report reveals that nearly six in ten architecture practices now make use of AI tools, up from 41 percent last year. The data suggests a growing belief within the profession that digital technologies can support rather than replace architectural practice. (more…)

Generational divide emerges on workplace AI

Generational divide emerges on workplace AI

by • AI, News, Workplace

Gen Z workers are not only the most enthusiastic users of workplace AI but also the most likely to be self-taughtAs artificial intelligence continues to reshape the world of work, younger employees are taking the lead in adopting and experimenting with new tools. According to a new survey by UKG and The Harris Poll, Gen Z workers are not only the most enthusiastic users of workplace AI but also the most likely to be self-taught. The research highlights a growing generational divide. While 84 percent of U.S. employees overall say they want AI to handle workplace processes, Gen Z – those aged 18 to 28 – are particularly eager. Ninety percent believe AI will save them time at work, with nearly a third expecting to reclaim up to 90 minutes a day. They’re also the most likely to have taken the initiative to learn AI skills independently, with 70 percent teaching themselves the tools they use. (more…)

New study suggests AI could be the key to workplace wellbeing

New study suggests AI could be the key to workplace wellbeing

by • AI, News, Wellbeing

A new report from audio brand Jabra, in collaboration with The Happiness Research Institute, claims that daily users of artificial intelligence tools are more likely to report higher levels of workplace wellbeing.A new report from audio brand Jabra, in collaboration with The Happiness Research Institute, claims that daily users of artificial intelligence tools are more likely to report higher levels of job satisfaction and optimism about their working lives. The study, Work and Wellbeing in the Age of AI [registration] is based on a survey of over 3,700 knowledge workers across 11 countries, including 360 in the UK. According to the report, UK respondents who use AI tools daily, referred to as “AI Advocates”, were 31.5 percent more satisfied in their jobs than those who do not use AI regularly. The researchers describe this figure for overall workplace wellbeing as being more than twice the global average difference between regular and infrequent AI users. (more…)

Data centres are the real powerhouses behind AI

Data centres are the real powerhouses behind AI

by • AI, Comment

For many year data centres have remained anonymous and physically low-key with a light air of mystery and suspicion around what actually happens in these technical boxes on the landscape. Yet, they are so vital to our lives, and this is only set to increase as the players in the datacentre world need to stand up to be counted.The Datacloud Global Congress took place during the first week of June, handily nestled between BCO Milan and London Tech week where the government announced an £86 billion boost to science and tech, with the intention of propelling Britain to world-leading status for research and innovation. These are three events with very different content, yet are also intrinsically linked for progressive and high performance societies and organisations. This was the 20th anniversary of Datacloud Global Congress, the flagship event for the sector – “mipim for data centres” some say. (more…)

Government partners with tech firms to boost AI skills of UK workforce

Government partners with tech firms to boost AI skills of UK workforce

by • AI, News

The Government has announced a new initiative aimed at equipping UK workers with the AI skills needed to adapt to the growing impact of artificial intelligence on the workplaceThe Government has announced a new initiative aimed at equipping UK workers with the skills needed to adapt to the growing impact of artificial intelligence on the workplace. The AI Opportunity Forum brings together major technology companies and business groups in a partnership designed to expand access to AI skills training across the country. Led jointly by Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan and Microsoft UK CEO Clare Barclay, the forum includes firms such as Google, Amazon, IBM, and PwC, along with organisations including the CBI and the Trades Union Congress. It will focus on practical ways to help individuals and businesses make the most of AI technologies and ensure the UK’s workforce can adapt to their growing use. (more…)

Rise of AI gives us a chance to rediscover a world beyond the screen

Rise of AI gives us a chance to rediscover a world beyond the screen

by • AI, Comment, Workplace design

If scheduling, communication, analysis, and recall can be handled by AI that operates through conversation or ambient cues, the screen starts to look less essential and more habitual.Over the past three decades monitors have colonised desks in workplaces, homes and in public spaces, with the presence of a screen often signalling that something productive is taking place. This assumption may now be under quiet revision with implications for technology, management, and workplace culture. The growing maturity of artificial intelligence agents is having an incremental but significant impact on how we work. AI is now more capable of carrying context across tasks, acting independently, and responding through natural language, which is leading to the need for visual interfaces to be reduced. If scheduling, communication, analysis, and recall can be handled by systems that operate through conversation or ambient cues, the screen starts to look less essential and more habitual. (more…)

Gallup report suggests that firms and their employees are not on the same page when it comes to AI

Gallup report suggests that firms and their employees are not on the same page when it comes to AI

by • AI, News

A new Gallup study suggests there is a notable gap between corporate enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) and employee preparedness to integrate the technology into their everyday work.A new Gallup study suggests there is a notable gap between corporate enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) and employee preparedness to integrate the technology into their everyday work. While ninety-three percent of Fortune 500 Chief Human Resources Officers say they have begun to integrate AI into their organisations, only thirty-three percent of employees are aware. Despite growing investment in AI, employee use remains limited. Nearly seventy percent of workers say they never use AI in their roles, and only ten percent engage with tools on a weekly basis. White-collar workers are more likely to use the technology, with fifteen percent reporting weekly usage, compared to just nineteen percent of production and frontline employees who say they use it at all. (more…)

Meh. Generative AI in the workplace is delivering modest returns that don’t match the hype

Meh. Generative AI in the workplace is delivering modest returns that don’t match the hype

by • AI, News

the use of generative AI chatbots has so far delivered only modest gains in productivity and almost no increase in pay or reductions in working hours for employeesA new study by the US-based National Bureau of Economic Research has cast doubt on the immediate transformative impact of artificial intelligence in the workplace, finding that the use of generative AI chatbots has so far delivered only modest gains in productivity and almost no increase in pay or reductions in working hours for employees. The working paper [restricted access], authored by economists Anders Humlum and Emilie Vestergaard, used detailed Danish employment data to assess the real-world effects of AI adoption across 7,000 workplaces and 25,000 workers, focusing on white-collar roles most susceptible to automation—such as accountants, IT support staff, journalists, HR professionals, and software developers. (more…)

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