United News of Bangladesh

Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh has defended his decision to use artificial intelligence in his new documentary John Lennon: The Last Interview, saying he believes filmmakers should be fully transparent about how they use the technology. The film, which premiered Saturday at the Cannes Film Festival, is built around a two-hour interview that John Lennon and Yoko Ono gave to a San Francisco radio crew on Dec. 8, 1980, the day Lennon was shot and killed in New York. During the interview, the couple spoke openly about their relationship, love, creativity, life after The Beatles, raising their young son and songwriting. Soderbergh said he was deeply moved by their honesty and warmth. The documentary uses AI-generated visuals in about 10% of the film, mainly during more philosophical parts of the conversation where there was little archival material available. The decision sparked criticism after Soderbergh revealed it earlier this year, with some in the film industry expressing concern about the growing use of generative AI. However, Soderbergh said he wanted to be open about the process. "Transparency is very important," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. "People should know exactly how this technology is being used." The director said he understands why many people are worried about AI, but does not believe the technology will replace most essential jobs in filmmaking. He said his personal rule is that AI should only be used when it is truly necessary and when there is no better way to achieve a creative goal. "I think a lot of people will use AI in ways that fail those tests," he said. Soderbergh added that each part of the filmmaking process — from writing and acting to costume and sound design will have a different relationship with AI, making it difficult to set one universal standard for its use. Despite the controversy, he hopes younger viewers will focus on Lennon's message. Soderbergh said the documentary highlights Lennon's lifelong commitment to honesty and his desire to challenge the traditional image of the male rock star. "He wanted to tell the truth and ask how we could become better human beings," Soderbergh said.

Bangladesh-based technology company Smart Lab has officially launched its IT and cloud solutions services in the Nepalese market. As part of this expansion, Smart Lab signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with one of Nepal’s leading marketing and communications service providers, Outreach. The agreement was signed on Saturday night at Hotel Himalaya in Lalitpur, Nepal, with representatives from both organisations present, including Outreach Founder and Strategic Planning Director Ujaya Shakya and a Smart Lab delegation. Under the partnership, Smart Lab will provide advanced IT solutions, system integration and cloud services to clients in Nepal. Smart Lab Founder and CEO Reyad Hasnain said the company’s international expansion is helping generate remittance earnings for Bangladesh and strengthen the country’s foreign exchange reserves. “We are already working with clients in 15 countries, including the USA, Singapore, Switzerland, China and Nepal. This expansion marks the next step in our global growth,” he said. Smart Lab specialises in system integration, professional services, IT operations management, software development and messaging solutions. It is an associate company of Smart Voice Limited and serves more than 50 corporate clients and banking institutions in Bangladesh. Outreach, established in 2003, is a leading advertising and marketing firm in Nepal and has received several international recognitions for its communications services. Following the MoU signing, Smart Lab representatives also attended the launch of a book by Ujaya Shakya. Stakeholders said the collaboration is expected to strengthen technological cooperation and regional connectivity between Bangladesh and Nepal.  

The Vatican is preparing to release the first encyclical of Pope Leo XIV, a major teaching document expected to call for an ethical approach to artificial intelligence (AI) that puts human dignity, social relationships and peace at the center. Vatican officials said the pope signed the document on Friday, exactly 135 years after Pope Leo XIII issued his landmark encyclical Rerum Novarum. That document addressed workers’ rights, the limits of capitalism and the responsibilities of governments and employers during the Industrial Revolution. The Vatican believes AI raises similar questions today about labor, justice and the future of society. Experts say the Catholic Church is well placed to contribute to the debate because of its long tradition of reflecting on what it means to be human. Shortly after becoming pope in 2025, Leo told cardinals that the Church should use its social teachings to help address the challenges AI poses to human dignity, justice and work. The pope is expected to return to the issue on Sunday during the Vatican’s World Communications Day, which this year focuses on the human consequences of the global race to develop AI. In a message released earlier, Leo warned that people must protect real human relationships as chatbots become more common. He also expressed concern over AI-generated music, videos and deepfakes that can spread false information. The encyclical, likely to be released in the coming weeks, could put the Vatican at odds with the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has strongly supported rapid AI development and opposed many international efforts to regulate the technology. Since the launch of ChatGPT, AI has advanced rapidly, bringing both promising applications and serious concerns. Experts have warned about risks ranging from biased hiring systems to autonomous weapons. The Vatican has been active in the debate for years. In 2020, it launched the Rome Call for AI Ethics, an initiative supported by companies such as Microsoft, IBM and Cisco Systems. The initiative promotes principles including accountability, fairness, privacy and inclusion. The late Pope Francis also called for an international treaty to regulate AI and urged governments to ensure that decisions involving weapons remain under human control. He advocated a ban on fully autonomous lethal weapons, often referred to as “killer robots.” Pope Leo has continued that message. While acknowledging AI’s contributions to medicine and scientific research, he has warned that the technology could undermine humanity’s connection to truth and beauty. The pope has also raised concerns about AI’s role in modern conflicts, including in Ukraine and the Middle East, where increasingly sophisticated drones and automated systems are being used. Speaking recently at Sapienza University of Rome, Leo said the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon and Iran show how new technologies are making warfare more destructive and less humane.

A growing number of companies, particularly in the technology sector, are linking job cuts to increased investment in artificial intelligence (AI), raising concerns among workers about future employment prospects. Recent layoffs across industries have increasingly referenced AI, though companies often cite broader restructuring plans and economic pressures as primary reasons. Analysts say businesses are reallocating resources toward AI development and automation, which may reduce workforce needs in certain areas while potentially creating new roles in others. Cisco Systems recently announced plans to cut fewer than 4,000 jobs, or about 5% of its workforce, despite reporting record quarterly revenue driven by strong demand for AI-related products. CEO Chuck Robbins said the company must make “hard decisions” to remain competitive in the AI era, while pledging support for affected employees. Similarly, Block Inc., led by Jack Dorsey, has laid off more than 4,000 workers as part of efforts to restructure around AI-driven operations. Dorsey said smaller teams equipped with advanced tools can operate more efficiently. Outside the tech sector, Dow Inc. announced around 4,500 job cuts earlier this year, citing a push toward streamlining operations with automation and AI integration. Meanwhile, Pinterest has reduced its workforce by nearly 15% as it shifts investment toward AI-focused initiatives and product development. In Europe, Lufthansa Group said it plans to eliminate 4,000 positions by 2030, pointing to digitalisation and AI adoption as contributing factors. Other major firms, including Meta Platforms, Microsoft and Amazon, have also announced significant layoffs while ramping up investments in AI infrastructure, though they have not always directly tied the job cuts to the technology. Experts note that while AI is not always the sole driver of layoffs, it is increasingly shaping corporate strategies. Companies argue that reallocating resources toward AI may enhance efficiency and competitiveness, but uncertainty remains over how the shift will impact long-term employment opportunities.

Amid constant drone noise, blackouts and damaged streets, some young tech workers in Gaza are still trying to earn a living by coding for clients abroad. Tarik Zaeem, a 44-year-old programmer, spends his days working on software for an app in Saudi Arabia, fixing issues in a barcode system while sitting at a laptop in Gaza City. He often walks through destroyed streets to reach a shared workspace where freelancers can charge devices and access more stable internet. Remote work has become both a vital income source and a mental escape for many in the war-hit territory. “When I work, I forget everything and focus on coding,” he said, adding that his wife and children are now in Egypt. “I stop thinking about airstrikes or searching for drinking water.” Zaeem is part of a growing community of freelancers in Gaza who work for international clients through platforms such as Upwork, Freelancer.com and Mostaql. Despite the ongoing war and widespread destruction, many continue to design websites, build apps and create digital services for clients in countries including Canada, Kuwait and Turkey. The digital freelancing sector in Gaza developed over the past decade, especially after traditional industries weakened following political changes and restrictions. High unemployment and widespread internet access helped push many graduates toward online work, while donors and NGOs supported training programs and tech hubs. One such initiative, Mercy Corps’ Gaza Sky Geeks, once ran busy coworking spaces before much of its infrastructure was destroyed during the war. The group is now helping revive remote work through smaller shared workspaces. However, the conflict has severely disrupted daily life. Telecommunications networks were heavily damaged, and frequent power cuts have made it difficult for freelancers to meet deadlines. Many have also lost homes, relatives and stable internet access due to airstrikes and displacement. Software engineer Sharif Naim, who runs a solar-powered coworking space called Taqat Gaza, said working conditions have slowly improved as new shared workspaces opened across the territory. His centre now supports hundreds of freelancers with internet access and training. Women have also increasingly relied on online work as households face growing financial pressure. Graphic designer Reem Alkhateeb said freelancing has become her family’s main income source after her husband lost his job and food and water shortages worsened. “Our dreams are now very basic,” she said. “We just want electricity, internet and a normal life where we can work.”Getting paid remains another major challenge. Many freelancers cannot access international banking services or payment platforms, forcing them to rely on relatives abroad or informal cash transfer systems with high fees. In response, local initiatives such as “Gaza Talents,” founded by Salsabil Bardawi after personal loss in the war, are helping connect freelancers with international clients and manage payments through partner financial services. The platform says it has helped generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in income for workers. Despite the hardships, many freelancers say they continue working not only for survival, but also to maintain a sense of normal life in the midst of destruction.

Americans continue to have a complex love-hate relationship with the iPhone, a device that has become deeply embedded in daily life while also raising concerns about overdependence. For many users, the iPhone feels almost essential, offering instant access to a wide range of services. People use it to take and share photos on social media, play games, watch videos, listen to music, send messages, check emails, browse the internet, follow news updates, get navigation directions and even make digital payments. Making or receiving phone calls, however, has become just one of many uses. At the same time, critics say the device often encourages excessive screen time. Constant notifications and alerts can pull users into endless scrolling, reducing attention spans and making it harder for people to disconnect. The debate reflects a broader paradox in American life as smartphones, including those powered by Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android systems, have become almost unavoidable in modern society. The iPhone was first introduced in 2007 by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who predicted it would transform everyday life. Since then, it has reshaped communication, entertainment and work habits in ways few could have fully anticipated. Some surveys even suggest that many people would choose to sleep beside their phones rather than their partners if forced to decide, highlighting how deeply integrated the devices have become in personal routines. Now, observers are questioning how society can balance the benefits of smartphones with their potential downsides, including whether their impact should be compared to addictive products such as cigarettes, alcohol or junk food. For now, however, the trend appears to continue toward greater digital dependence, as daily life becomes increasingly centered around glowing screens.

A high-profile legal battle between Elon Musk and Sam Altman has intensified scrutiny on OpenAI’s leadership, with Altman seen as having the most at stake as he prepares to testify in court. The civil trial, underway in Oakland, California, stems from a lawsuit filed by Musk accusing Altman of abandoning the founding mission of OpenAI— originally established as a nonprofit—to pursue a profit-driven model. Musk is seeking Altman’s removal from leadership and financial support for the company’s charitable arm. Testimonies over the past two weeks have highlighted internal tensions at OpenAI, including Altman’s brief removal as CEO in 2023. A text exchange between Altman and company executive Mira Murati during that period—where she described the situation as “very bad”—has drawn widespread attention online. Witnesses, including former board members Helen Toner and Tasha McCauley, raised concerns about Altman’s leadership, citing what they described as a “pattern of behavior” involving lack of transparency and resistance to board oversight. OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever also testified, saying Altman’s conduct had affected trust and productivity within the company. However, he later supported Altman’s reinstatement, citing fears that the company could collapse without him. Despite the criticism, OpenAI’s current board chair Bret Taylor defended Altman, describing his performance as CEO as effective and transparent. Experts say the trial could have wider implications for the artificial intelligence sector, particularly as OpenAI, Musk’s ventures, and rival firms move toward potential initial public offerings. While Musk also faces risks, including scrutiny tied to his business interests, analysts suggest Altman’s leadership future could hinge on his courtroom testimony. “This is not looking good for any of them,” said Sarah Kreps of Cornell University, noting that the case comes at a time when public perception of AI is already under strain. The jury is expected to weigh conflicting accounts of leadership and governance before delivering a verdict that could significantly impact one of the world’s most influential AI companies.  

An experimental café in Sweden’s capital is drawing attention for putting an artificial intelligence system in charge of daily operations, while human baristas continue to serve customers. The café, launched by San Francisco-based startup Andon Labs, is being managed by an AI agent named “Mona,” powered by Google Gemini. The system handles key business functions such as hiring, inventory management and operational decisions, leaving staff to prepare and serve food and drinks. Since opening in mid-April in Stockholm, the café has generated over $5,700 in sales, though expenses have significantly reduced its initial budget of more than $21,000. Much of the spending went toward setup costs, and operators hope the business will eventually become profitable. Customers have shown curiosity about the AI-run concept, with some interacting directly with the system via a phone inside the café. “It’s nice to see what happens if you push the boundary,” said one visitor, adding that the quality of the drinks remained good. Experts worry about AI's role going forward Researchers and analysts say the experiment raises important ethical and practical questions, particularly around accountability and decision-making. Emrah Karakaya, an academic at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, warned that handing control to AI could create risks if proper oversight mechanisms are not in place. “If something goes wrong, such as a food safety issue, it raises questions about responsibility,” he said, cautioning that poorly managed systems could harm businesses and society. Founded in 2023, Andon Labs focuses on testing AI systems in real-world scenarios using actual financial resources and operational tools. The company has collaborated with major AI developers, including OpenAI, Anthropic and Google DeepMind. Company officials say the Stockholm café is part of a broader effort to understand how AI might run organizations autonomously in the future. AI agent struggles with inventory orders While the AI system has successfully handled tasks such as securing permits, setting up services and recruiting staff through platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed, it has faced challenges in day-to-day management. The system has reportedly over-ordered supplies — including thousands of napkins and gloves — and purchased items not used in the café. It has also struggled with managing bakery deliveries, occasionally ordering too much or missing deadlines, forcing menu changes. Developers attribute these issues to limitations in the AI’s memory and context processing. Despite the experiment, café staff say their roles remain secure for now, suggesting that AI may pose a greater challenge to managerial positions than to frontline workers.  

A human barista serves coffee, but an artificial intelligence agent is running operations at an experimental café in Stockholm, where almost all business decisions are handled by AI in a real-world test of automation. The Andon Café, operated by San Francisco-based startup Andon Labs, has placed an AI agent named “Mona” in charge of management tasks while human staff continue to prepare and serve drinks. Powered by Google’s Gemini, the system oversees hiring, contracts, inventory and day-to-day operations. International cyberattack disrupts universities and schools across three countries Since opening in mid-April, the café has earned over $5,700 in sales but remains below break-even, with less than $5,000 left from an initial budget exceeding $21,000. Organisers say most early spending went on setup costs and expect performance to stabilise over time. Customers have reacted with curiosity, with visitors able to call the AI via an in-café telephone. “It’s nice to see what happens if you push the boundary. The drink was good,” said customer Kajsa Norin. Andon Labs, founded in 2023, says it is stress-testing AI systems in real environments and has worked with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind and xAI. It envisions AI-run organisations in the future. Technical staff member Hanna Petersson said the café is a controlled experiment to study ethical questions in AI-led management. However, experts including KTH’s Emrah Karakaya warned of accountability risks, calling it “opening Pandora’s box.” Mona has made major errors, including over-ordering supplies and mismanaging bread deliveries. Barista Kajetan Grzelczak said jobs remain safe for now, but middle management could be affected.

A widespread cyberattack has disrupted universities and schools in the United States, Canada and Australia, causing major academic interruptions during a critical end-of-semester period. The hacking group ShinyHunters has claimed responsibility for the attack, which temporarily knocked offline Canvas, a widely used online academic platform operated by Instructure and used by thousands of educational institutions worldwide. By Thursday night, Instructure said Canvas had been restored “for most users,” though several universities continued to report outages on Friday. The company estimated that around 9,000 institutions globally were affected. The disruption forced multiple universities to postpone or cancel examinations and coursework. Mississippi State University, for example, delayed final exams to allow students to recover lost academic work. Students described confusion and panic after a ransom message appeared on screens mid-exam, claiming that ShinyHunters had breached the system and threatening to release stolen data unless a payment in cryptocurrency was made. Universities including Penn State University, Idaho State University and the University of British Columbia confirmed service interruptions, with some cancelling exams and warning students not to attempt logging into the platform. The Chicago Maroon, the university-led newspaper, posted a screenshot of a message from ShinyHunters that appeared to be seeking a ransom. The message encouraged the university to contact the hacking group privately "to negotiate a settlement" and avoiding "the release of their data". It was the same message that Northwestern University masters student Jacques Abou-Rizk said he received when he clicked a link in an email that appeared to be from a university administrator. "I didn't know what was happening," Abou-Rizk recalled. "It's a scary message to receive." At the University of Toronto, officials said multiple institutions were impacted, while students at the University of California, Los Angeles faced difficulties submitting assignments. The University of Chicago temporarily disabled its Canvas access following the breach. The hacking group reportedly demanded ransom payments in exchange for not leaking stolen data. Some students and faculty described widespread confusion as systems suddenly went offline during exams and assignments. Cybersecurity analysts said the attack appeared to be part of a coordinated extortion campaign, with deadlines issued for payment demands earlier this week. The incident comes amid growing concerns about cyber threats targeting educational and public infrastructure, with US lawmakers urging stronger national cybersecurity measures. Authorities and Instructure continue to investigate the breach, while universities are working to restore services and reschedule affected academic activities. Source: BBC