Mandates fail to bring people back to the office, but design and flexibility might

Mandates fail to bring people back to the office, but design and flexibility might

by • Flexible working, News, Workplace design

Rigid return-to-office mandates are doing little to increase attendance, according to new research from international design practice Hassell. The firm’s latest Workplace Futures Survey, titled The Mandate Mirage, suggests that the real motivator for people to work in person is choice, particularly when supported by offices designed to offer more than just a desk. The sixth edition of the survey, which polled 3,000 office workers across the UK, US, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea, finds that strict policies are more likely to generate dissatisfaction than compliance. In the UK, poorly executed mandates cut compliance by up to 41 percent, while organisations that offered bonuses or travel subsidies saw attendance increase by a third. Recently renovated offices also boosted in-person working by 15 percent. (more…)

Text to video GenAI will help drive energy consumption of OpenAI to same level as India

Text to video GenAI will help drive energy consumption of OpenAI to same level as India

by • AI, Environment, News

A new study has raised concerns about the energy consumption of text-to-video (T2V) models, warning that the technology could become one of the most power-intensive forms of artificial intelligence yet developedA new study has raised concerns about the energy consumption of text-to-video (T2V) models, warning that the technology could become one of the most power-intensive forms of artificial intelligence yet developed. The research coincides with reports from within OpenAI that the firm’s energy consumption will match the current energy use of India within 8 years. The paper, Video Killed the Energy Budget: Characterizing the Latency and Power Regimes of Open Text-to-Video Models, published on the open research platform arXiv, presents a detailed analysis of the power usage of advanced open-source video generation systems. Conducted by researchers Julien Delavande, Régis Pierrard and Sasha Luccioni, the study benchmarks several models and quantifies the way in which video generation consumes energy. (more…)

Mitsubishi Estate announces £800 million London Southbank mixed use development

Mitsubishi Estate announces £800 million London Southbank mixed use development

by • News, Property

The Japanese developer will deliver a 600,000 sq ft mixed-use scheme, to be called Vista, which will combine offices, studios, galleries and exhibition areas. As part of the development, 40,000 sq ft has been allocated as affordable workspace for creative businesses, a measure intended to support start-ups and smaller firms in the sector.Mitsubishi Estate has announced plans to invest £800 million in the redevelopment of the former ITV Studios site on London’s South Bank, a project that is expected to create 4,000 jobs and provide significant new space for the capital’s creative industries. The Japanese developer will deliver a 600,000 sq ft mixed-use scheme, to be called Vista, which will combine offices, studios, galleries and exhibition areas. As part of the development, 40,000 sq ft has been allocated as affordable workspace for creative businesses, a measure intended to support start-ups and smaller firms in the sector.

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Global commission on healthy indoor air launches at United Nations

Global commission on healthy indoor air launches at United Nations

by • Facilities management, News, Wellbeing, Workplace design

The Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air has been formed to drive action on indoor air qualityA new international initiative was launched in New York during Climate Week to address what experts describe as one of the most overlooked public health issues of our time. The Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air has been formed to drive action on indoor air quality, bringing together nearly 170 leaders from over 30 countries across health, academia, business and the built environment. The Commission was announced at a United Nations side event and is backed by the International WELL Building Institute. Its members include former United States Surgeon General Dr Richard Carmona, leading scientists and researchers, deans of major universities, as well as executives and sustainability leaders from real estate, technology, and manufacturing. Architecture, engineering and building science are also strongly represented, reflecting the cross-disciplinary nature of the challenge. (more…)

AI generated ‘workslop’ is destroying productivity, say researchers

AI generated ‘workslop’ is destroying productivity, say researchers

by • AI, News

Workslop is a new term for the flood of low quality content and outputs produced by employees leaning too heavily on generative AIA new analysis published in the Harvard Business Review suggests that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence tools is undermining productivity in many workplaces rather than improving it. The article introduces the idea of “workslop”, a term used to describe the flood of low quality content and outputs produced by employees leaning too heavily on generative AI systems. According to the research, the number of organisations adopting AI has risen sharply in the past two years, with many leaders assuming the technology would deliver immediate efficiency gains. Yet a study from MIT Media Lab cited in the article found that 95 percent of organisations have seen no measurable return on their investment in AI. Instead of freeing people from routine tasks, many firms are finding that AI is creating new layers of work. Drafts, reports and proposals generated by software are often superficial, incoherent or riddled with errors, requiring staff to spend additional time correcting or recreating them. (more…)

Adoption of workplace AI is inconsistent and riddled with contradictions

Adoption of workplace AI is inconsistent and riddled with contradictions

by • AI, News

New research claims to reveal the significant divides in how organisations are adopting artificial intelligence, with some reporting positive outcomes and others citing fear, risk and job losses.New research claims to reveal the significant divides in how organisations are adopting artificial intelligence, with some reporting positive outcomes and others citing fear, risk and job losses. The study, carried out by The Adaptavist Group as part of its latest Digital Etiquette: Unlocking the AI Gates report, surveyed 900 professionals responsible for introducing and onboarding workplace AI in the UK, US, Canada and Germany. It found a sharp split between the 42 percent of respondents who believe their company’s AI claims are over-inflated and the 36 percent who do not. (more…)

Revolut opens new London HQ as part of long term plan for the UK financial services sector

Revolut opens new London HQ as part of long term plan for the UK financial services sector

by • News, Property

Fintech firm Revolut has announced the opening of its new global headquarters in London, underlining a week that has seen more than £110 billion committed to the UK financial services sector.Fintech firm Revolut has announced the opening of its new global headquarters in Canary Wharf, in a week that has seen more than £110 billion committed to the UK financial services sector. The company confirmed it will invest £3 billion over the next five years and create around 1,000 new skilled jobs. (more…)

People are handing work to AI agents even though they are unreliable and lack accountability

People are handing work to AI agents even though they are unreliable and lack accountability

by • AI, News

UK workers expect to hand over almost a third of their workload to AI agents within the next year, yet most say the technology is still unreliable and lacks clear accountabilityUK workers expect to hand over almost a third of their workload to AI agents within the next year, yet most say the technology is still unreliable and lacks clear accountability, according to a new poll from Asana’s Work Innovation Lab. The survey of more than 2,000 workers, including 1,021 in the UK, found that employees anticipate delegating 32 percent of tasks to AI within 12 months and 41 percent within three years. At present, only a quarter feel ready to do so. Despite the rapid spread of adoption, with nearly three-quarters already using AI agents, concerns about reliability and oversight remain high. (more…)

Carbon capture could help turn CO2 into fuels, chemicals and building materials

Carbon capture could help turn CO2 into fuels, chemicals and building materials

by • Environment, News

The report, Defossilizing Industry: Considerations for Scaling-up Carbon Capture and Utilization Pathways, outlines how industries could transform captured carbon dioxide into fuels, chemicals and building materialsA new report from the World Economic Forum warns that current plans for carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) fall well short of what is needed to meet global climate goals. The study, launched today in collaboration with Wood Mackenzie, concludes that planned CCU projects represent only around six percent of the scale required by 2040 to align with international targets. The report, Defossilizing Industry: Considerations for Scaling-up Carbon Capture and Utilization Pathways, outlines how industries could transform captured carbon dioxide into fuels, chemicals and building materials, creating new markets while cutting emissions. It argues that CCU has the potential to convert carbon from a liability into an asset, generating jobs and value chains across multiple sectors. However, it warns that without stronger policy signals and investment, the opportunity will remain unrealised. (more…)

Hybrid working is now more about when work is done, rather than where

Hybrid working is now more about when work is done, rather than where

by • Flexible working, News

The defining issue in workplace flexibility and hybrid working is now time rather than locationA new report from Owl Labs suggests that the debate over where people work is being replaced by questions about when they work. The firm’s 2025 State of Hybrid Work report argues that the defining issue in workplace flexibility and hybrid working is now time rather than location. The study, based on a survey of 2,000 US workers, claims that almost half of respondents believe they do not have enough flexibility in their working hours. Thirty seven percent said they would turn down a job that did not provide flexible scheduling, an increase compared to last year. Around a quarter said they would find a four day week more attractive than a traditional arrangement, with many indicating they would be willing to take a pay cut in exchange for greater control over their time. On average, workers said they would give up around eight to nine percent of their salary to secure more flexible hours or a reduced working week. (more…)

AI is actually adding to people’s workloads, increasing burnout fears

AI is actually adding to people’s workloads, increasing burnout fears

by • AI, News, Wellbeing

The survey from Resource Guru suggests that one in five UK agency workers believe AI has increased the amount of work they do, fuelling concerns about burnout in an industry already known for long hours and client pressureAgency staff say artificial intelligence is adding to their workloads rather than reducing them, according to a new poll. The survey from Resource Guru suggests that one in five UK agency workers believe AI has increased the amount of work they do, fuelling concerns about burnout in an industry already known for long hours and client pressure. The report challenges the common assumption that AI automatically speeds up delivery and cuts costs. Instead, respondents highlighted new layers of hidden work, including drafting detailed prompts and templates to generate usable material, fixing errors in AI outputs, and managing compliance and client expectations. Much of this extra work is unrecognised, with clients often assuming AI should make services faster and cheaper. (more…)

Sustainable Design Collective hosts ’speed dating’ style talks

Sustainable Design Collective hosts ’speed dating’ style talks

by • Environment, News, Workplace design

Members of the Sustainable Design Collective including sustainability specialists from leading workplace design practices, such as Perkins & Will, TP Bennett, BDP, JRA, Overbury and Siren Design, are offering the opportunity to join ’speed dating’ style round table discussionsMembers of the Sustainable Design Collective including sustainability specialists from leading workplace design practices, such as Perkins & Will, TP Bennett (main image), BDP, JRA, Overbury and Siren Design, are offering the opportunity to join ’speed dating’ style round table discussions. To be held on Wednesday 1st October, 4-6pm at the Crypt on the Green in Clerkenwell, manufacturers, suppliers, designers, project and facilities manager are invited to join one of the round table discussions hosted by SDC members. After 20 minutes, the whistle will blow and that’s the opportunity to change tables. Topics include: Achieving greater circularity; Understanding Supply Chains & Adding social value; Sustainability & Technology; Project Assessments. (more…)

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