Artificial Intelligence isn’t just the new kid on the block anymore — it’s the boss, the driver, the DJ at the after-party, and sometimes the bouncer too. In the past month alone, AI developments have charged ahead faster than a CEO chasing a quarterly bonus. Let’s break down what’s shaking the business world and why you should care (hint: if you don’t, your competitors will).
Zhipu AI’s Free Agent: Battle Stations, Everyone!
China’s Zhipu AI has thrown a spanner (and a few algorithms) into the AI race with AutoGLM Rumination — a shiny, fast, and free AI agent ready to plan your holiday, write your next report, or find where you left your sanity. Powered by GLM-Z1-Air and GLM-4-Air-0414 (catchy names, right?), it’s leaner and meaner than the rivals. Thanks to a chunky $41.5 million shot of government-backed funding, Zhipu is primed to lead the local market — and cause a few sleepless nights for its competitors.
Takeaway for business: Free AI tools are levelling the playing field. Invest wisely or risk being the slow coach at the innovation party.
AI in Healthcare: Diagnosing Faster than You Can Say ‘Coeliac’
University of Cambridge researchers have trained AI to diagnose coeliac disease quicker than you can down a pint of Guinness. Instead of waiting nervously for biopsy results, patients could soon get nearly instant answers. But before we start celebrating with gluten-free cupcakes, remember: hospitals will need shiny new digital infrastructure first.
Takeaway for business: Speed kills (the competition). AI will increasingly reward those who can integrate faster, not just smarter.
Virtual Models Are So In, Darling
H&M is giving real models a run for their money — literally — by creating AI ‘twins’ for 30 of them. Great for photo shoots on Mars, but the modelling world is (rightly) worried about fairness, rights, and whether bots are about to steal their catwalks.
Takeaway for business: AI can save money, yes. But it can also trigger PR nightmares if human ethics are left out of the equation.
Kids Talking to Storybook Characters? Welcome to 2025
In a move that’s either magical or mildly terrifying, new AI tech lets kids message storybook characters via WhatsApp. Good for imagination, risky for privacy. Teachers and parents, start your engines — you’ll need to be vigilant.
Takeaway for business: Innovation thrills, but it must come with a side of responsibility — or face the backlash of a thousand angry parents.
CoreWeave’s IPO: Investors Are Not (Yet) Drinking the Kool-AI-d
AI data centre darling CoreWeave aimed for the stars with its IPO — and landed somewhat awkwardly on the sofa. Despite a $1.5 billion raise, investors fretted about its heavy reliance on Nvidia and top tech clients. Debt didn’t help either.
Takeaway for business: Even in the AI gold rush, fundamentals matter. Don’t bet the ranch on hype alone.
Government: Cutting Corners on AI Cancer Tech
In a baffling move, the UK government has slashed funding for AI cancer tech that could save lives and slash radiotherapy planning time from hours to minutes. Experts are calling it ‘ridiculous.’ Patients, sadly, might call it something worse.
Takeaway for business: Short-term savings can lead to long-term disasters. Innovation needs ongoing support — not just photo ops.
Rise of Open-Source AI: Breaking the Giants’ Monopoly
Why pay for GPT-4 when you can roll out DeepSeek’s R1 or Baidu’s Ernie 4.5 for free? Open-source AI models are surging, giving startups and smaller businesses a fighting chance without coughing up Silicon Valley prices.
Takeaway for business: Democratisation of AI is coming fast. Adapt — or become a footnote in someone else’s victory story. Just be careful who you are giving your data to!
Final Thoughts:
If 2024 was the year businesses flirted with AI, 2025 is the year they’re expected to pop the question. Whether it’s turbocharging your service delivery, optimising operations, or building better customer experiences, those who integrate AI thoughtfully will race ahead.
Ignore it? Well… let’s just say Kodak once thought digital cameras were a fad.
