A three-month evaluation of Microsoft’s M365 Copilot AI assistant in a key UK department found mixed results and few measurable efficiency gains.

Mixed Results From Promising Tech

The UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has published the results of a detailed trial of Microsoft’s M365 Copilot AI assistant, revealing no definitive evidence that the tool leads to higher productivity. Despite users reporting moderate satisfaction and perceived time savings, the trial concluded that the AI often performed inconsistently across tasks, and in some cases, reduced output quality.

The trial, which ran from October to December 2024, involved 1,000 Copilot licences distributed across the department, with roughly 300 participants consenting to monitored usage. The pilot aimed to assess the AI’s real-world impact on common digital tasks using Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Outlook, Teams, Excel and PowerPoint.

Microsoft markets Copilot as an AI productivity enhancer that can summarise meetings, draft emails, generate slides, analyse data, and more. However, the DBT report suggests the real-world impact was far more nuanced than the promotional material might suggest.

Where Copilot Worked And Where It Didn’t

The government study found that users were most satisfied when using Copilot to perform simpler, text-based tasks, e.g., summarising meetings, writing emails, and condensing written communications.

In the trial, these tasks consistently showed time savings and improved clarity when compared with work from non-Copilot users. Email writing was slightly faster and judged higher in quality and accuracy.

However, performance in more complex tasks was notably weaker. For example, data analysis in Excel and visual content creation in PowerPoint suffered, with AI-generated outputs often requiring correction or falling short of expectations. PowerPoint slide creation was seven minutes faster on average, but to a lower standard of quality. In Excel, AI users took longer and produced less accurate results than their non-AI counterparts.

The report concluded: “We did not find robust evidence to suggest that time savings are leading to improved productivity. However, this was not a key aim of the evaluation, and therefore, limited data was collected to identify if time savings have led to productivity gains.”

Light Usage of Copilot

The study also revealed relatively light usage patterns. According to the M365 Copilot dashboard, the average user triggered just 1.14 Copilot actions per working day across the 63-day pilot.

Word, Outlook and Teams saw the highest engagement, but more specialised tools such as Excel, PowerPoint, Loop and OneNote saw very low uptake, i.e., less than 7 percent of users activated Copilot in Excel or PowerPoint on any given day. Loop and OneNote usage was negligible.

These numbers raise questions about whether the value justifies the cost. For example, UK commercial Copilot licences currently range from £4.90 to £18.10 per user per month. For large departments or enterprises, these costs could escalate rapidly, especially if many users engage with the tool only sporadically.

User Attitudes and AI Limitations

While 72 percent of participants were “satisfied or very satisfied” with Copilot, it seems that qualitative interviews suggested that much of this enthusiasm came from the novelty or perceived time saved on repetitive admin tasks. In some cases, staff used their saved time to take training courses or enjoy longer breaks, rather than focusing on higher-value work.

Interestingly, a significant number of participants (22 percent) reported witnessing hallucinations (AI-generated inaccuracies or fabrications). Another 11 percent were unsure, highlighting the still-fragile trust in GenAI tools in professional settings.

Adoption also varied across teams, often influenced by management attitudes. Some line managers actively encouraged use, while others created a “frosty” culture around AI assistance, which in turn impacted engagement.

Microsoft and Its Competitors

For Microsoft, the report is clearly a mixed result. The company has heavily invested in integrating Copilot across its core product suite and has made productivity gains a central part of its pitch. But in the DBT trial, the return on investment appears questionable.

Critics say that the AI’s strengths in low-complexity tasks are well documented, but the promise of broad-based productivity enhancement still feels premature.

A recent MIT survey cited in the DBT report found that 95 percent of companies investing in generative AI tools (including M365 Copilot) had little tangible benefit to show for it. With corporate spending on GenAI already topping $40 billion, pressure is growing for vendors to demonstrate real ROI.

The findings may also embolden competitors such as Google, Zoho, or even open-source productivity platforms. For now, Copilot’s core strength appears to lie in routine, text-heavy admin support. In more complex tasks requiring judgement or accuracy, it remains inconsistent.

As DBT continues to analyse the environmental and cost impacts of Copilot, Microsoft may need to further refine how its AI interacts with different apps and workflows, or risk a broader slowdown in enterprise adoption.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

The DBT trial showed that M365 Copilot could save time on routine admin, but may not provide any meaningful productivity gains across a department. For UK businesses considering using the tool (or using it already), this raises some serious questions about cost-effectiveness, especially where licences are purchased at scale but only lightly used. With Microsoft positioning Copilot as a flagship product, the pressure to deliver clear, measurable value will only grow.

Usage data from the trial suggests that even in a controlled, well-supported environment, AI tools are far from being embedded into daily workflows. Inconsistent performance in more complex tasks, combined with ongoing concerns about hallucinations, points to a maturity gap that will be difficult to ignore. Competitors offering simpler or more focused AI products may now find space to challenge Microsoft’s all-in-one approach, particularly in areas where users need speed and accuracy over generalised support.

WordPress used WordCamp US 2025 in Portland to debut ‘Telex’, an experimental AI tool that turns plain English prompts into downloadable website blocks, making it faster and easier to build custom WordPress features without coding.

What Telex Is And Why It Matters

Telex is a prototype that generates custom Gutenberg blocks (the modular sections that make up WordPress pages) from a typed prompt, then packages the result as a downloadable .zip. The .zip file can then be uploaded as a plugin to a WordPress site or tested in WordPress Playground. In his keynote, WordPress co-founder and Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg described it as “V0 or Lovable, but specifically for WordPress,” referencing the rise of prompt-based “vibe coding” tools (vibe coding is using AI to generate code from natural language prompts). He showed how a developer used it to create a simple marketing animation, underscoring the aim to lower the barrier to building bespoke site elements.

The service is currently available at telex.automattic.ai and is marked as experimental, to show users that it’s still a work in progress. Early testers have reported that there have been projects that failed outright or needed manual fixes before working properly, which is consistent with the current prototype label. “At the core of it, there is a seed of something, which is so enabling,” Mullenweg said, while also acknowledging concerns about the hype cycle around AI.

Who Is Behind It?

Telex follows WordPress’s formation of a formal AI Team in May 2025, which was set up to coordinate AI features across the ecosystem using a plugin-first approach. The initial team includes contributors from Automattic, Google, and 10up, the apparent brief being to “accelerate and coordinate artificial intelligence projects” in line with WordPress values. This is the governance backdrop for Telex and other experiments.

How It Works In Practice

The idea of how Telex is used is simple, i.e. users describe the block they want (for example, a hero section with animated text and a call to action) and Telex generates code that the user can install as a plugin. WordPress Playground, which runs full WordPress instances in the browser, provides a safe place to try outputs without touching a live site. For many users, especially small teams, this should reduce the set-up overhead of traditional development and encourage and speed up layout or interaction ideas.

What’s So Special About Telex (Compared With Other AI Builders)?

There are, of course, plenty of AI website builders that generate whole sites in one go, including Wix’s AI Website Builder and Squarespace’s Blueprint AI. However, Telex is different because it targets WordPress’s modular architecture and outputs discrete Gutenberg blocks that can slot into existing sites, themes, and workflows. For teams invested in WordPress, that is a more natural fit than moving to a closed, hosted builder. Wix and Squarespace are pitching all-in-one creation and hosting, often with paid plans and platform lock-in, whereas Telex sticks to WordPress’s open approach and lets users host sites wherever they choose.

Benefits Businesses Might Notice

If Telex matures, the immediate benefit is likely to be time saved due to speed. For example, routine front-end building blocks such as hero sections, testimonial carousels, or animated counters could be generated in just minutes, then refined by a developer rather than built from scratch. Since the output is a standard plugin zip, teams can check the code, keep track of changes, and remove it easily if needed, which suits organisations that follow strict approval processes.

For non-technical teams that still prefer WordPress, Telex simplifies things. WordPress powers 43.4 percent of all websites (according to W3Techs , so any step that makes customisation easier is likely to have an outsized impact. If prompt-to-block works well, agencies could prototype options live with clients, then hand over code that slots into existing repos and CI pipelines.

Playground is also useful because it allows developers to test Telex-generated blocks in a browser without needing a live site. They can install the plugin, check it works as expected, and export the result as a .zip file when ready.

Where It Fits In The Competitive Landscape

WordPress remains the most widely used content management system. Other platforms such as Wix and Squarespace have recently introduced AI features that build entire sites in minutes, aimed at first-time users and small businesses.

Telex takes a different approach. Instead of generating whole websites, it focuses on creating individual WordPress blocks that can be added to existing themes and layouts. It stays within the open WordPress system and gives users the freedom to host their websites anywhere, which is often a priority for businesses that want more control over their data and setup.

This could help WordPress hold onto small businesses that might otherwise switch to closed, hosted platforms. If Telex proves reliable, it may also speed up work for agencies and internal teams who already build with WordPress.

There may also be knock-on effects across the WordPress ecosystem. If businesses can generate standard blocks themselves, this could reduce demand for some paid plugins and themes. At the same time, it could create new opportunities for agencies to offer reviewed prompt templates, support services, or curated collections of AI-generated blocks for clients in regulated industries.

Key Challenges And Early Criticism

It seems that Telex has already faced some questions about reliability, e.g. there have been reports that several early test projects failed or needed extra work before they could run properly. For now, it’s likely that businesses will still need developers to review, test, and secure any blocks before using them on a live site. How well Telex handles different themes, and whether it supports accessibility and good performance by default, will make a big difference to how useful it becomes.

There’s also the wider legal backdrop. For example, WordPress and Automattic (the company behind WordPress.com and a major contributor to the platform) have spent the past year in a legal dispute with hosting provider WP Engine. That case led to a court-ordered injunction in December 2024 and remains ongoing. Although it has nothing to do with Telex, the dispute has raised concerns about how decisions are made in the WordPress ecosystem and who holds the influence. At WordCamp, Mullenweg said only that the case was moving through the legal system.

Security is another area that will need close attention because like any AI tool that writes code, Telex can produce weak or incomplete results if the prompts are unclear. As WordPress runs in so many different environments, even small errors can lead to problems. WordPress Playground (the browser-based version of WordPress used for safe testing) may help lower the risk during development, but once in production, businesses will still need to carry out proper checks, just as they would with any third-party plugin.

What It Could Mean For WordPress

Telex is part of WordPress’s ongoing move to introduce AI in a way that’s open and easy to test. The AI Team set up in May 2025 has said it will use a plugin-first approach, meaning features like Telex will be released separately at first, not baked into WordPress Core. If Telex becomes more widely used, it could start to shape WordPress development practices, training materials, and support tools.

It could also lead to more conversational features in WordPress itself, such as tools that help users build blocks by describing what they want in plain English. Mullenweg made clear that this ties directly into WordPress’s long-standing goal of making publishing accessible to everyone. “We’ve taken things that were difficult to do, that required knowledge of coding or anything else, and made it accessible to people,” he said.

If AI can continue that trend without lowering code quality or reducing choice, Telex could help keep more creators on the WordPress platform rather than losing them to simpler, hosted services.

What About Business Users of WordPress?

For small and medium-sized UK businesses already using WordPress, Telex could speed up common tasks such as adding new sections to a homepage, updating layouts, or testing different calls to action. Also, marketing teams could test ideas quickly and agencies could deliver small custom features faster and at lower cost. Developers could spend less time writing basic layout code and more time on integrations, security, and performance.

For companies in regulated sectors, the fact that Telex generates installable plugins, not hosted code or external widgets, is also important because it makes it easier to track changes, review code, and remove features if needed, which fits well with internal approval processes.

Hosted platforms like Wix and Squarespace now offer strong AI tools for beginners, but they also limit flexibility and hosting choices. Telex offers an alternative that works within WordPress and still gives users full control over where and how their site is hosted.

For developers, Telex essentially changes the way some work gets done but doesn’t remove the need for human input (it still needs the AI prompts). Early feedback shows that AI-generated blocks often still need testing and refinement and, therefore, agencies with strong technical teams may be best advised to combine effective prompting with proper review, offering clients speed without sacrificing quality.

How To Try It Safely Today

Telex is still experimental, and the safest way to try it is through WordPress Playground (a browser-based version of WordPress for safe testing). This lets developers test blocks directly in the browser, without affecting any live sites. For now, users may want to keep the scope simple, such as generating a hero section or a testimonial layout, and then review the code before installing it on a development site. That will give teams a chance to see how Telex works while keeping control over what goes into production.

Where Things Stand for Now

Telex is still in its early stages, and some outputs may not yet be reliable enough for complex sites. However, the tool sits within a wider AI development effort at WordPress, supported by a new AI Team and a plugin-first approach. For now, therefore, Telex appears to offer a way for developers and businesses to explore how prompt-based tools could be used inside existing WordPress workflows, without relying on external platforms or hosted AI builders.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Telex essentially gives users a faster way to create modular WordPress features using natural language prompts. By generating standard plugin files that can be tested, reviewed, and installed like any other block, it offers a practical route to exploring AI-assisted development without changing platform or setup.

For UK businesses already using WordPress, this could simplify everyday site updates and reduce the time spent on routine layout tasks. It may also allow smaller teams to create and test new features without relying on external developers, provided there is still a review process in place to catch errors or security issues. Larger organisations, especially those in regulated sectors, are likely to value the ability to track changes and control what gets deployed.

Telex also points to wider changes across the WordPress ecosystem. Agencies may begin using it to accelerate early design work, freeing up developer time for more complex builds. At the same time, plugin developers may face new pressure to show the added value of their products if standard blocks become easier to generate on demand.

The real test will be how well Telex performs in production environments, across different themes and hosting setups. Its usefulness will depend not just on speed but on consistency, security, and whether it can meet accessibility standards. For now, it gives WordPress users a way to experiment with AI-driven development using familiar tools, while keeping full control over hosting and site management.

Google has announced a major upgrade to its Circle to Search feature, allowing users to see live translations as they scroll through content on their screens.

What Is Circle to Search?

Circle to Search is a relatively new tool on Google’s Android that allows users to search directly from whatever they’re viewing on their phone. Introduced globally in January 2024, the feature lets users activate a search by circling, highlighting, scribbling on, or tapping any part of their screen, without needing to switch apps or open a browser. The tool is essentially designed to make on-the-fly research and translation faster, more contextual, and more seamless across Android devices.

To launch it, users simply long-press the home button or navigation bar. Once activated, they can interact with whatever is on their screen, e.g. an image, a product, a word in another language, and instantly trigger a Google Search related to that element.

Google originally introduced Circle to Search on its Pixel 8 series and Samsung Galaxy S24 devices, positioning it as a flagship AI-powered search interface. Since then, its capabilities have expanded rapidly. For example, earlier in 2025, Google added AI Overviews (summary answers generated by generative AI) and smart tap functions for phone numbers and URLs visible on screen. In May, it also rolled out “AI Mode,” which lets users ask follow-up questions related to what’s on their screen, similar to how you might query a chatbot.

Now “Scroll and Translate” Added

Last week’s update focused on translation. Previously, users could translate foreign-language text using Circle to Search, however, the feature had a frustrating limitation, i.e. the translation would disappear whenever the user scrolled, refreshed the page, or switched apps. To continue translating, they had to restart the whole process manually each time.

Now, Google has added a new “scroll and translate” mode that keeps translation active while users move through content. This means that translated text updates continuously as a person scrolls down a webpage, swipes through images, or even switches between apps. There’s no longer any need to keep reactivating the tool.

The updated feature is being rolled out first to (select) Samsung Galaxy devices running Android, with wider availability expected in the coming weeks. To use it, users just activate Circle to Search as normal, tap the “Translate” icon, and select “Scroll and translate.” The live translation then stays active until they exit the mode.

Why This Update Could Make a Real Difference

According to Google, translation has become one of the most widely used features within Circle to Search, particularly for users encountering foreign-language content on social media, in images, or while navigating websites and apps abroad. However, until now, it hasn’t been particularly smooth to use.

As Google explained in a recent blog post: “You can get more context for social posts from creators who speak a different language, or browse menus when you’re booking restaurant reservations while travelling abroad. But until now, you had to restart the translation process every time you scrolled or the content on the screen changed.”

The new “scroll and translate” mode, therefore, has been designed to address that limitation directly. Once activated, it allows translation to remain on as users move through pages, swipe across photos, or even switch between apps. Google says the aim is to make interacting with foreign-language content feel more continuous and intuitive.

How This Could Help More Than Just Travellers

While this might appear to be a minor user interface tweak, the impact could actually be broader than it first appears. For international teams and mobile professionals, the ability to get uninterrupted translation in real time may reduce friction in daily workflows.

For example, reading through a contract, document, or website in another language no longer means repeatedly triggering a translation tool. With the new update, translated content can stay visible as the user moves through it, which may prove especially useful when skimming longer texts, working with multilingual sources, or reviewing supplier and customer information on the go.

The feature also reduces reliance on third-party translation apps or copy-paste methods. For businesses, that could mean smoother collaboration across regions, fewer errors introduced by switching tools, and a faster way to understand what’s on screen without leaving the task at hand.

Google and Its Competitors

The update may strengthen Google’s position as a leader in mobile search and ambient AI integration. Circle to Search is one of the company’s most visible efforts to embed AI more deeply into the daily experience of Android users, without requiring them to open dedicated apps.

By removing friction from multilingual browsing, Google is also essentially extending its dominance in the translation space. For example, Google Translate already reportedly serves over 500 million people each day, and the new feature effectively bakes that capability into Android’s navigation layer. This could reduce usage of rival apps and services such as Microsoft Translator, DeepL, or third-party browser extensions.

More broadly, the move could be said to illustrate Google’s ongoing strategy to layer AI tools into operating systems, search workflows, and productivity tools rather than offering them only as standalone products.

According to Jack Krawczyk, Senior Director of Product at Google, who oversees many of the company’s AI integrations, “We think the best AI is the kind that’s helpful when you need it and invisible when you don’t. Circle to Search is designed to remove the friction between what you see and what you want to know.”

Who Can Use It and When?

The “scroll and translate” feature is already starting to roll out to users on supported Android devices. Initially, it will be available on select Samsung Galaxy models, with broader rollout expected to follow shortly. Google has not given a definitive timeline for when other Android devices will receive the update, but given past patterns, it’s likely to extend to Pixel and other high-end models first before reaching wider mid-range devices.

Users will need to ensure they are running the latest version of Android and have updated their Google app to access the feature. There’s no indication yet that the feature will come to iOS, as Apple currently does not support Circle to Search.

Potential Use Cases for Businesses

For UK business users in particular, the practical benefits are tangible. Teams that interact with overseas suppliers, manufacturers, or clients could use the feature for quick translation of communications, spec sheets, or product listings. HR teams dealing with multilingual job applications, or marketing teams researching global campaigns, could also find the real-time translation useful in their day-to-day work.

Also, because it doesn’t require switching between apps or screens, the process is less disruptive and more conducive to multitasking. As more work takes place on mobile devices, including messaging and approvals, the integration of live translation at OS level is likely to become increasingly relevant.

Concerns?

Despite the clear benefits, the new translation feature isn’t without its concerns. For example, privacy campaigners have previously raised questions about Circle to Search more broadly, particularly around how much screen data is shared with Google during a search.

Google has stated that Circle to Search only processes the exact area selected by the user and that all interactions are covered by the same privacy protections as standard search queries. However, continuous translation raises new questions, especially if text is being interpreted and sent to Google’s servers as users scroll across private chats or internal business documents.

Another concern is that real-time translation accuracy is still variable, depending on the language pair and complexity of the text. While Google Translate has improved significantly in recent years, it can still struggle with nuance, idiomatic expressions, or specialist technical vocabulary.

There’s also the issue of platform exclusivity. For example, by limiting new features to select Android devices (often in partnership with Samsung), Google may face criticism for fragmenting the user experience across the wider Android ecosystem. This could leave users of other brands or older devices without access to key updates.

Also, competitors such as Apple and Microsoft may see this move as a signal to accelerate their own integrations of translation and AI capabilities into mobile workflows. Apple already offers on-device translation in Safari and the Translate app, but not yet at the OS interaction level seen here.

What Does This Mean for Your Business?

This latest update may appear incremental, but it’s actually a sign of Google trying to integrate more AI-driven tools directly into mobile interfaces in ways that simplify daily tasks. For UK businesses, especially those with international operations or multilingual clients, it opens up new opportunities for faster and more accurate decision-making on the go. Having real-time translation embedded at system level reduces the need to rely on separate apps or switch between tools, which can often slow down workflows and introduce errors.

At the same time, it raises fresh concerns around privacy, platform fragmentation, and dependency on a single provider for key language processing tasks. Organisations handling sensitive data may, therefore, need to consider where that information is going and how it is processed during on-screen translation. Smaller device makers and software rivals may also feel pressure to respond, particularly as Google continues to consolidate its AI advantage through tighter integrations.

What’s clear is that Circle to Search is no longer just a novel gesture-based tool. With features like “scroll and translate”, it is starting to become a more practical part of the Android user experience, particularly for professionals who rely on speed, accuracy, and context when working across languages.

A US judge has ruled that Google can avoid the most severe antitrust penalties, including being broken up, because of rapid changes in the search market driven by generative AI.

Why the Case Was Brought in the First Place

The ruling stems from a five-year legal battle between Google and the US Department of Justice (DoJ), which accused the tech giant of illegally maintaining a monopoly in online search. First filed in October 2020 by the DoJ and 11 US states, the case argued that Google used unlawful tactics to protect and extend its dominance, particularly through exclusive agreements that made it the default search engine on smartphones, browsers, and other devices.

The trial began in September 2023 and focused on whether Google’s business practices, especially its multi-billion-dollar deals with companies like Apple, Samsung, and Mozilla, were shutting out competitors and reinforcing its hold over more than 90 per cent of the online search market. In August 2024, US District Judge Amit Mehta agreed with the DoJ that Google had violated antitrust laws under Section 2 of the Sherman Act. That left everyone wondering (until now) what the consequences should be.

What the DoJ Wanted, and Why

The DoJ argued that serious structural changes were needed to stop Google from continuing to wield disproportionate power over how users access information online. For example, this included the forced divestiture of two of Google’s most strategically important assets, ie. its Chrome web browser and the Android operating system.

The DoJ essentially argued that these platforms were being used to entrench Google Search as the default option, thereby making it harder for rivals to compete. The government also sought a ban on exclusive agreements, and demanded that Google share its search data (information about user queries and clicks) with other search providers, to level the playing field.

However, in the final judgement just issued (early September 2025), Judge Mehta rejected most of these proposals, ruling that they were overly broad and unsupported by evidence of direct misuse.

What the Judge Said

In his 230-page decision, Judge Mehta confirmed that Google had maintained its dominance through anti-competitive means, but concluded that forced divestiture of Chrome or Android was unnecessary and would risk harm to other parts of the tech ecosystem.

“Plaintiffs overreached in seeking forced divestiture of these key assets, which Google did not use to effect any illegal restraints,” Mehta wrote. Instead, he ordered more targeted remedies. Google must now stop entering into exclusive default agreements and must share certain user-side data, such as search indexes and click data, with “qualified competitors.”

So, rather than force a breakup of the company, Mehta imposed “behavioural remedies.” These include:

• Providing syndication access to qualified competitors at standard rates

• Ending exclusive contracts involving Search, Chrome, Assistant and Gemini.

• Sharing key data such as search index and click-through info with rivals.

However, this data-sharing excludes advertising-related information, a core part of Google’s business model. Google can also still pay to have its products preloaded on devices, as long as those deals are not exclusive.

AI as the Game-Changer

One of the most unexpected aspects of the ruling was Judge Mehta’s emphasis on the rise of generative AI. He argued that since the case began in 2020, the search market has evolved significantly, with AI products such as ChatGPT and Perplexity offering new ways for users to find information online.

“The emergence of GenAI changed the course of this case,” the judge wrote. He noted that no witnesses during the original liability phase viewed AI as an immediate threat, but that by the remedies stage, AI tools had become a meaningful source of competition in general search.

This shift, he said, made structural remedies less appropriate. “Unlike the typical case where the court’s job is to resolve a dispute based on historic facts, here the court is asked to gaze into a crystal ball and look to the future. Not exactly a judge’s forte,” he added.

What This Means for Google and Its Rivals

For Google, the ruling is clearly a significant reprieve. The company avoided being broken up and is still able to fund default placement deals, as long as they are non-exclusive. Not surprisingly, Alphabet’s share price rose more than 8 per cent after the decision was announced, while Apple, a key partner in default search placements, saw a 4 per cent increase.

Google welcomed the outcome, stating: “Today’s decision recognises how much the industry has changed through the advent of AI, which is giving people so many more ways to find information.”

However, the decision was less favourable for Google’s competitors, including smaller search engines like DuckDuckGo and data-hungry AI startups. While they now have limited access to user-side search data, many argue that without access to Google’s full “recipe”, including advertising data and ranking algorithms, they still face an uphill battle.

Adam Kovacevich, CEO of the tech policy group Chamber of Progress and a former Google public policy executive, told reporters: “What you had is Google’s rivals arguing that Google had to share its recipes’ secret sauce. And the judge rejected that. He said: ‘You only have to share their ingredient list.’”

Users and Businesses

For everyday users, the immediate impact of this ruling is likely to be minimal. For example, Google will remain the default search option on many platforms and services, although it must now offer some level of choice. Businesses that rely on search visibility, digital marketing, or ad placement are unlikely to see major short-term changes.

However, the longer-term implications may be more subtle. For example, by avoiding structural changes, the court has left Google’s advertising dominance intact, although critics argue that this could limit innovation and keep ad prices high.

Some privacy advocates have also voiced concern. For example, the Electronic Frontier Foundation warned that limited data-sharing requirements could be easily circumvented or rendered ineffective if not tightly monitored.

Reaction from the Markets and Others

Investor reaction was, of course, overwhelmingly positive. The share price rises for Alphabet and Apple suggest relief that the court did not force a radical restructuring of the tech ecosystem. Mozilla, another major Google distribution partner, welcomed the ruling’s caution, noting that sudden revenue loss from Google payments “could put Firefox out of business.”

The Department of Justice, while not immediately commenting on whether it would appeal, said in a statement: “The ruling recognises the need for remedies that will pry open the market for general search services, which has been frozen in place for over a decade.”

Not everyone agrees the outcome goes far enough. Nidhi Hegde, Executive Director of the American Economic Liberties Project, called the remedies “feckless,” comparing them to letting a bank robber off with a thank-you note. “This is a complete failure of duty and must be appealed,” she said.

Critics across the political spectrum have also questioned whether the court placed too much faith in AI’s ability to regulate the market. As the technology is still in flux, it remains uncertain whether generative AI will truly provide the kind of competition that could erode Google’s dominance.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

For now, the ruling leaves Google in a dominant position and offers limited changes for users or competitors. While exclusive defaults have been blocked, the company can continue paying for high-profile placements and retains full control over its most valuable advertising and ranking data. For UK businesses reliant on search traffic, online visibility or Google Ads, the immediate landscape remains largely the same. That may bring short-term certainty, but it also means that the pressures and pricing structures of a highly centralised market are likely to continue.

The court’s focus on generative AI as a future source of competition reflects just how quickly the tech environment has changed. However, it also places significant weight on an evolving technology that has yet to fully deliver on its disruptive promise. While AI tools are gaining traction, they are not yet mature enough to provide a realistic alternative to traditional search for most users or businesses. Whether they will in time remains to be seen, but for now, much of Google’s advantage is still firmly in place.

For regulators, the outcome sets a clear precedent. Rather than restructuring dominant platforms, the focus has shifted towards softer remedies such as data-sharing and long-term oversight. That approach may limit harm to partners and consumers in the short term, but it leaves open questions about whether smaller search providers and emerging AI tools can genuinely compete without broader intervention.

UK businesses operating in digital sectors, online retail, media, and advertising will need to monitor these developments closely. The effectiveness of the data-sharing requirements, and whether AI can level the field as the court suggests, will help determine whether genuine competition emerges, or whether the market remains firmly tilted in favour of one provider. Either way, it now seems that the responsibility for driving that change could lie more with technology and market forces than with the courts.

Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed that a cyber attack has severely disrupted its global production and retail systems, forcing plant shutdowns and causing delays during a key sales period.

The incident was first detected on Sunday 31 August, prompting an immediate IT shutdown to contain the threat. Staff at factories in Merseyside, the West Midlands and Wolverhampton were told to stay home, with parts of the dealer network also affected.

A hacker group known as Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters has claimed responsibility. Internal system screenshots posted online suggest they had access to sensitive tools, although there is no current evidence of customer data theft.

Suppliers have described the situation as “extremely serious”, with some moving into recovery mode due to the knock-on effect on production and parts supply.

Cyber experts say attackers increasingly target the link between IT and operational technology, knowing it can bring manufacturing to a halt and increase pressure on victims to pay.

To protect against these types of attacks, businesses should prioritise multi-factor authentication, restrict access across systems, and regularly test their detection, containment, and recovery capabilities.

Students at New College Lanarkshire are now being financially rewarded for recycling cans and plastic bottles as part of a new trial designed to test how incentives influence sustainable habits.

How the Trial Works and Why It Matters

The month-long trial, which runs across the college’s Motherwell, Coatbridge and Cumbernauld campuses, offers students a 20p reward for every eligible drinks container they deposit into one of the on-site Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs). The incentive is redeemable at campus canteens and aims to encourage better recycling habits among young people.

The scheme is being run in partnership with Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) and environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, which has previously collaborated on a similar project at the University of Strathclyde. There, researchers found that around half of students said a financial incentive would make them more likely to recycle.

The New College Lanarkshire initiative is designed to build on those findings and go a step further. In addition to tracking RVM usage, it also involves selected three-person student households taking part in a two-week live trial of the wider Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). This includes documenting their daily experience with returning containers, offering a more realistic picture of what works and what doesn’t.

Ronnie Gilmour, Deputy Principal at New College Lanarkshire, said: “We know that living in a clean and sustainable environment is very important to our students. I’m sure the data gathered through the scheme will make an important contribution to understanding behaviour around recycling.”

Jo Padwick, Senior Sustainability Manager at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Great Britain (CCEP GB), added: “Giving students the chance to live with a Deposit Return Scheme – something that will soon be a part of everyday life – allows us to see first-hand how people interact with RVMs in reality.”

Learning from Behavioural Insights

The financial incentive is not just a token gesture but is part of a growing body of work examining what genuinely motivates people to recycle. For example, while many support environmental goals in principle, real-world participation often depends on convenience and personal benefit.

As Barry Fisher, Chief Executive at Keep Scotland Beautiful, explained: “We’ve learned from previous campaigns what encourages positive recycling behaviours by students and hope that this 20p incentive will motivate more people to recycle plastic bottles and cans.”

The trial also focuses on the design of messaging, campaign materials and ease of use. The students are being asked to feed back on these elements to help fine-tune future rollout strategies, particularly as Scotland prepares for the introduction of a national Deposit Return Scheme.

Other Reverse Vending Trials Gaining Ground

It should be noted here that the Lanarkshire scheme is not the only one of it’s kind. Across the UK, similar projects are being tested as local authorities, colleges and retailers look to increase recycling rates and reduce litter.

For example, earlier this year, Middlesbrough Council became the first local authority in England to pilot a council-backed RVM in a community setting. Residents could deposit containers in exchange for a 10p discount at a local eco shop, helping both to clean up streets and support sustainable consumer behaviour.

Also, in West Suffolk, the college campus installed one of the UK’s earliest RVMs, allowing students to return bottles for small incentives while learning about closed-loop recycling. Meanwhile, major UK supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Iceland have tested RVMs in-store to gauge customer reactions ahead of any mandatory DRS rollout.

Scotland had originally planned to launch a national DRS in 2024, though this has now been postponed until at least 2027 due to technical and legislative hurdles. That said, trials like those in Lanarkshire seem to be laying the groundwork by identifying what motivates users, where friction points occur, and how to integrate RVMs into everyday behaviour.

Broader Sustainability Gains from DRS Schemes

Deposit Return Schemes are actually widely used across Europe, with some notable success. For example, in Norway, Germany and Lithuania, return rates for cans and plastic bottles regularly exceed 90 per cent. The key appears to be combining convenience with a financial incentive (however small).

Also, Ireland recently introduced its first nationwide DRS (in February 2024). By August 2024, monthly return volumes had surged from just 2 million to over 111 million containers. That growth not only reduced waste but also generated funds for local charities and encouraged public buy-in.

According to the European Commission, DRS schemes can reduce litter by up to a massive 80 per cent and dramatically increase material recovery rates, helping to conserve resources and reduce the carbon footprint of packaging.

UK Government’s Own Scheme In 2027

The UK Government has now committed to introducing its own scheme, with England, Wales and Northern Ireland targeting a 2027 start. However, key decisions on scope, technology and implementation remain under review. Scotland’s experience with voluntary trials could therefore play a valuable role in shaping UK-wide plans.

Why These Schemes Matter for UK Businesses

Businesses, particularly those in food, drink, and retail, are paying close attention. The shift to DRS will have operational and cost implications for manufacturers, distributors and retailers alike. However, those that embrace the change may also find new opportunities in brand perception, customer loyalty and sustainable supply chain models.

There’s also a longer-term strategic point. As ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) pressures mount, and consumers grow more selective, companies that can point to credible sustainability actions are better placed to meet stakeholder expectations and future regulation.

RVMs and DRS schemes, while not a silver bullet, offer one practical and measurable way to demonstrate environmental leadership, particularly if the data gathered can show improved recycling rates, reduced litter, and more engaged communities.

Global Energy Demand for AI Raises Concern

While initiatives like these reward sustainable behaviour in the UK and Europe, it could be said that some international policy developments appear to be heading in the opposite direction.

For example, in the United States, President Donald Trump has made AI infrastructure a strategic priority for economic and geopolitical dominance. At a recent White House dinner with leading tech CEOs, including OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Google’s Sundar Pichai, Trump pledged to remove all regulatory obstacles to data centre expansion, particularly grid access and power supply.

“We’re making it very easy for you in terms of electric capacity and getting it for you, getting your permits,” Trump said, referencing a new executive order to fast-track approvals for data centres and associated energy infrastructure.

While this may sound business-friendly, the implications for sustainability are potentially very serious. For example, a 2025 Deloitte Insights report warned that the US data centre industry’s energy use could grow more than thirtyfold by 2035, largely driven by demand for generative AI. That level of consumption would put immense pressure on grid capacity and fossil fuel dependency, especially as Trump’s administration continues to back oil, gas and nuclear expansion while rolling back clean energy incentives.

The Washington Post recently reported that Trump’s “Drill, Baby, Drill 2.0” policy package includes a reversal of federal solar incentives and accelerated leasing of federal land for oil and gas extraction, sparking backlash from environmental groups.

The US is not the only country that could be accused of pushing in the opposite direction. For example, in June, South Korea’s government greenlit a major nuclear build-out to power AI-focused data campuses, with six new gigawatt reactors planned. Critics have argued that the move appears to be prioritising tech industry growth over clean energy transition.

Balancing Innovation and Environmental Responsibility

The contrast here appears to be quite striking. For example, whereas grassroots UK initiatives are exploring how small incentives and smart tech can encourage sustainable habits, some of the world’s largest economies are racing to power the next AI boom, regardless of the carbon consequences.

The lesson for UK businesses may be that while innovation is essential, sustainability can’t be treated as a separate issue and that every action either supports or undermines the wider climate goal.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation?

What seems to stand out here is the growing gap between local action and global energy trends. In the UK and much of Europe, trials like those at New College Lanarkshire are building practical knowledge of how to drive behaviour change, reduce waste, and strengthen public support for more circular economic models. These are small-scale but targeted interventions that gather real data and encourage responsible habits from the ground up. For UK businesses, particularly those in sectors linked to packaging, consumer goods, or logistics, these schemes offer more than just a compliance challenge. They present a chance to align with shifting expectations, enhance transparency, and actively contribute to measurable sustainability outcomes.

At the same time, however, the direction being taken by governments such as the United States and South Korea raises some clear concerns. While investment in AI and advanced technology is often framed as a national priority, the energy demands required to support that growth (especially in the form of new datacentres) are enormous. The rollback of environmental safeguards in pursuit of short-term infrastructure expansion risks locking in decades of emissions at precisely the moment when global targets require the opposite. UK businesses operating internationally, or relying on cloud-based and AI services, will, therefore, need to consider how these developments affect their own carbon reporting, risk exposure, and supply chain decisions.

For UK companies aiming to future-proof their operations, the challenge is not just to adopt greener practices internally, but to understand and influence the broader systems they are part of. In that context, student-led trials of recycling machines may offer insights that go well beyond the campus gates.