Category: Focus Topic
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Why AI does not automatically make us more productive
So far, AI has not helped any major company outside the technology sector achieve a measurable increase in profits. This is the conclusion reached by Torsten Slok, Chief Economist at Apollo Global Management, in a recently published note. Comparing the seven major US technology companies with the rest of the S&P 500, he finds that…
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Watermarks for AI-generated text: are they watering down our knowledge?
In the coming weeks, according to OpenAI, AI-generated texts produced by ChatGPT and Codex within the European Union are set to include invisible watermarks. This is a response to the transparency requirements of the EU AI Act, which calls for machine-readable labelling of AI-generated content. Watermarks are statistical patterns. The technology, called textGrain, embeds statistical…
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OpenAI introduces a framework for reporting model misalignment
OpenAI has introduced a new framework for systematically recording, investigating and publishing cases of so-called model misalignment. This refers to situations in which an AI model behaves unexpectedly or acts contrary to its intended rules. The new framework is designed to enable consistent and timely reporting of such behaviour, even where the underlying issue has…
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How neutral are Google’s AI Overviews on election-related queries?
AlgorithmWatch is a non-profit organisation based in Berlin and Zurich that examines the societal impact of algorithms and artificial intelligence. In July 2026, the NGO investigated the responses generated by Google’s AI Overviews for election-related search queries. Using Google’s “Search Researcher Result API”, AlgorithmWatch analysed 4,480 searches relating to the 2026 state elections in Saxony-Anhalt…
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When AI becomes routine: Which research skills need to be preserved?
As the use of AI in businesses grows, one question is becoming increasingly important: is it enough simply to ensure that AI systems meet legal and technical requirements? The EU research project AIOLIA argues that responsible AI use needs to go further. Alongside data protection and transparency, AI ethics also plays a crucial role. One…
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OpenAI reports on how companies are using AI
How are companies actually using generative AI in their day-to-day work, and what are leading organisations doing differently? Two new studies from OpenAI provide unusually detailed insights into these questions. They are based on anonymised enterprise data. The accompanying working paper alone analyses more than 17 million messages from over 1,500 organisations, six months after…