Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to drive innovation across industries, from self-driving cars to education and workforce productivity. Companies like Sony, Honda, and Microsoft are leading the charge by integrating AI to enhance products, streamline operations, and empower professionals. Let's explore the latest developments in AI in our weekend article.
Also Read: Jio Showcases AI Tools, Industry 5.0 and More Innovations at IMC2024
1. Sony and Honda to Integrate AI in Self-Driving EVs: Report
Sony Group and Honda Motor are set to boost self-driving technology in their upcoming electric vehicles that the partners are developing, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI). Their joint venture, Sony Honda Mobility, plans to debut AI-powered autonomous driving in the luxury Afeela model, slated for release in Japan and the US by 2026, challenging Tesla’s tech leadership, according to a Nikkei report.
2. Karnataka Introduces AI Assistant for Teachers With Microsoft's Support: Report
The Minister of School Education, Madhu Bangarappa, has launched the "Shiksha Co-pilot," a project designed to enhance learning outcomes by empowering teachers. Developed in collaboration with the Sikshana Foundation and Microsoft Research India, the tool helps educators create personalised, curriculum-based resources, The Hindu reports.
The initiative focuses on generating high-quality content quickly, providing interactive teaching aids, assessments, and lesson plans. It also features a chatbot for teacher self-learning and interactive content generation.
In the initial phase, 1,000 teachers will be trained, with plans for statewide expansion.
3. AI Saves Workers an Average of One Hour Each Day: Survey
Adecco Group's annual Global Workforce of the Future survey of 35,000 workers across 27 economies reveals that AI is helping workers save an average of one hour per day, with some sectors seeing savings of up to 75 minutes. The extra time is often spent on creative tasks, strategic thinking, or improving work-life balance.
However, 40 percent of workers express concerns about job security due to AI, and 13 percent have already lost jobs to automation. The survey also highlights the need for companies to focus on internal mobility, upskilling, and employee wellbeing as AI reshapes the workplace.
Adecco Group Chief Executive Officer, Denis Machuel, said: "There has been a huge amount of speculation about how AI is changing the world of work, which is why it is tremendously exciting to see these first potential signs of efficiency improvements. The time saved by workers seems to have been put to good use and is not just confined to one or two sectors but appears widespread across industries. These are early days, but AI appears to be delivering on its promise."
4. Former OpenAI CTO Reportedly Fundraising for New AI Startup
Mira Murati, the former CTO of OpenAI who announced her departure last month, is reportedly raising venture capital for a new AI startup, according to Reuters. The startup will focus on developing AI products based on proprietary models and could raise over USD 100 million in this round.
5. Midjourney to Launch Enhanced Image Editing Tool
Midjourney is set to release an upgraded web tool next week, allowing users to edit any uploaded image using its generative AI. The new tool will enable users to retexture images, adjusting colours and details based on captions. Initially, access will be limited to a subset of the community, with enhanced human and AI moderation to prevent misuse. CEO David Holtz announced the release in a Discord post, stating that community feedback will help determine early access.
According to the CEO, the new image editor will allow users to edit any uploaded or web image using Midjourney AI. It can also retexture images (via depth controlnet), meaning it preserves the shape of the scene or object while repainting all the textures, colours, and details according to your prompt.
Also Read: Nokia Integrates AI into Altiplano Access Controller for Enhanced Network Automation
6. SandboxAQ Eyes USD 5 Billion Valuation in Upcoming Fundraise
Artificial intelligence startup SandboxAQ is reportedly preparing for a fundraising round that could value the company at USD 5 billion. Spun off from Google parent Alphabet, SandboxAQ is in discussions with potential investors for the equity round, according to a Bloomberg report on October 18.
The company, known for its AI and cybersecurity solutions, raised USD 500 million two years ago, though it did not disclose its valuation at the time. SandboxAQ's technology integrates AI with quantum physics, utilising large numerical datasets for training, in contrast to language-based models like ChatGPT.
7. Book Publisher Penguin Random House Says No to AI Training: Report
Penguin Random House is reportedly taking a stance on AI training by adding a new clause to the copyright page of both newly released and reprinted books. The updated text will now read, "No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems," according to a report from The Bookseller.
This new clause also says that Penguin Random House "expressly reserves this work from the text and data mining exception," aligning with European Union regulations. The report says that Penguin Random House appears to be the first major publisher to explicitly address the issue of AI on its copyright page, reflecting the growing concern over how AI technologies use literary works for training purposes.
8. Microsoft Executives Share How AI is Reshaping PR and Marketing
AI tools like Microsoft Copilot are transforming marketing and PR, saving professionals time and enhancing creativity, according to Microsoft. Polymnia Soulioti, CMO of Microsoft Southeast Europe, and Irena Merkas, Communications Manager in Microsoft for Central and Southeast Europe, shared how AI helps them streamline tasks, from summarising emails to crafting content and analysing data.
Soulioti estimates saving 4 hours per week, while Merkas saves over an hour daily, allowing them to focus on strategic and creative work. AI’s ability to automate routine tasks and provide data-driven insights is reshaping the industry, driving efficiency while preserving human creativity.
Despite concerns over job displacement, both executives view AI as a complement to human skills, not a replacement. AI is helping professionals in marketing and communications work smarter, not harder, paving the way for innovation and stronger results.
Polymnia Soulioti said: "Sure thing! I am a great advocate of Microsoft Copilot as it saves time and helps you organise your day and projects. Even for meetings that I did take part in I am using Copilot as it offers a great wrap up with clear action items and R&Rs."
Irena Merkas added: "The future of communications will see AI playing an even greater role, with tools becoming more sophisticated and capable of handling complex tasks. However, the human element – creativity, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking will remain crucial. AI can boost efficiency and provide valuable insights, but it can’t replace the uniquely human aspects of effective communication."
"I encourage my colleagues to start using AI-powered tools like Copilot to stay ahead in our fast-changing environment. The key is to continuously learn and experiment with these tools, leveraging them to complement our skills and drive better results," Irena added.
Also Read: Ericsson Enhances Focus on AI, Gen AI and Network APIs at India R&D Centers
9. AI Cloud to Be Launched Next Year, Says Tata Communications CEO: Report
Tata Communications will showcase some of its first AI services powered by the latest Nvidia chipsets next week, with plans to make them available to enterprises shortly thereafter, CEO A S Lakshminarayanan said, according to a Mint report.
"We're bringing a lot of AI use cases to make interactions more intelligent. We will be showcasing some of these at the (next week's) Nvidia AI Summit... we're fast changing into becoming a SaaS platform in areas of networks, cloud, security, IoT and interactions," the CEO said according to the report.
10. India Ranks Second Globally in Generative AI Adoption: Report
India is emerging as a global leader in Generative AI (GenAI) adoption, ranking second only to the US, according to a SimilarWeb report, ANI reported. The country leads in AI usage for content editing, contributing 12 percent of global activity. India also ranks third in AI-driven productivity tools and education.
While Indian audiences are highly engaged in these sectors, they lag behind in adopting AI-powered companion apps, presenting growth opportunities. In addition, the report suggests that AI-powered applications in travel and commerce are beginning to gain traction in India, signalling further growth in these areas.
Also Read: Chipotle Invests in AI Supply Chain Platform Lumachain
11. X to Use User Data for Third-Party AI Training
X (formerly Twitter), the social media company led by Elon Musk, has notified users that starting November 15, their data may be used to train AI models for third-party collaborators. This move goes beyond Musk’s own Grok AI, potentially allowing X to licence data to outside companies.
This change could generate significant revenue for X. While users have the option to opt out, the process remains unclear. The policy update does mention that users have the ability to opt out.
"Depending on your settings, or if you decide to share your data, we may share or disclose your information with third parties," the update reads. "If you do not opt out, in some instances, the recipients of the information may use it for their own independent purposes, in addition to those stated in X's Privacy Policy, including, for example, to train their artificial intelligence models, whether generative or otherwise."
