Meta anticipates significant changes due to advancements in artificial intelligence, while the UK government launches AI training programs, and Iran begins to restore internet access after a severe shutdown.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated that artificial intelligence (AI) tools are improving so rapidly that a single engineer can now accomplish the work previously requiring an entire team. During a call with financial analysts on Wednesday to discuss Meta's 2025 financial results, Zuckerberg predicted that "2026 [will] be the year that AI dramatically changes the way we work," according to BBC Technology and BBC Business. This statement hints at potential future layoffs at the tech giant, which, like other major tech firms, has already implemented multiple rounds of job cuts in recent years to streamline operations.
In response to the growing importance of AI, the UK government has launched a series of free AI training courses aimed at helping adults integrate the technology into their work lives. The online lessons provide guidance on using chatbots for various tasks, including administrative duties. The government aims to reach 10 million workers by 2030 through this initiative, which it calls the most ambitious training scheme since the launch of the Open University in 1971, according to BBC Technology. However, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) cautioned that workers will need more than basic chatbot prompting skills to adapt to the evolving AI landscape.
Meanwhile, in Iran, some citizens are regaining internet access after nearly three weeks of an extreme internet shutdown. The country cut off internet access on January 8, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to control the flow of information regarding a government crackdown on protesters, according to BBC Technology. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the internet was blocked in response to what he described as "terrorist operations." While some internet access has been restored, independent analysis suggests that much of the country remains effectively cut off from the outside world.
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